Memorise: He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Matthew 26:42
Read: Matthew 6:9-10, James 4:13-15
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
James 4:13-15
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow [a]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Bible in one year: Isaiah 48-50, Luke 4:14-37

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

1. Because God is the creator of all things in heaven and on earth, He holds supreme authority over everything, and He does whatever pleases Him (Psalm 135:6).
2. His desire is that every creature in heaven and on earth should do His will.
3. The will of God is God’s plan and purpose for each entity in His creation at given time.
4. Only those who have submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can readily do God’s will from their heart (Psalm 40:8).
5. There is only one person on earth who knows the will of God at any particular time, and 1 Corinthians 2:11 reveals that person: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” Therefore, anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him or her can neither know nor be submissive to the will of God (1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:7). Even if such people attend church meetings and worship services, they will still find the word of God and the lifestyle of His kingdom questionable, burdensome and even offensive.
6. Whenever an unconverted person is confronted with the will of God as revealed through His word, an antagonistic tension develops in their heart, which the conviction of the Holy Spirit works to douse.
7. Because the corrupt carnal nature of man sees itself as the master of the universe, human beings love to exercise their freewill over everything including the forces of nature and even God’s divine power. This has led some people to erroneously see the power of human freewill as being superior to God’s divine authority. However, children of God do not walk in this folly.
8. As children of God, we recognize that the exercise of freewill outside the will of God is false freedom which leads to slavery and captivity to worldly pleasures, addictions, pride, inordinate ambition, immorality, and the like. These are the very same things that Jesus sacrificed so much to deliver us from. Therefore, we submit our freewill to God in the process of discovering and following God’s purpose for our lives.
9. Any exercise of freedom that gives a person the liberty to live recklessly without due consideration for divine purpose and life after death is actually the freedom of fools.
10. God’s will for His children is always good and in their best interest (Jeremiah 29:11). It is the essence of life and the only way by which we can fulfill our destiny.
11. You can continually know God’s will for your life by discerning it in the place of prayer (Ephesians 5:17, Colossians 1:9).
12. Your heavenly Father expects you to ensure that His will is done in your life, family, church and community (Matthew 6:10). Are you doing this?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Brethren, it is a terrible thing for a man to live his life without the will of God, Infact the  end of such fellow is predictable. We cannot ignore the fact that sometimes exercising this will can be difficult but the end is gain. Just like Pastor stated above ” we submit our freewill to God in the process of discovering and following God’s purpose for our lives”  Hence, you cannot live by His will and miss your purpose on earth. May the Lord give us the grace to abide to the Will of God. Thank you Pastor E.A Adeboye for this devotional, May God enrich you the more. 

Prayer Point: Father, I submit myself anew to the lordship of Your Spirit. Please let Your will be done in 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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20

Memorise: Then said his wife unto him, dost thou sill retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. Job 2:9
Read: Judges 16:24-31
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, The destroyer of our land, And the one who multiplied our dead.”
25 So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
26 Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.”
27 Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.
28 Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.
30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
31 And his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel twenty years.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 45-47, Luke 3:23-4:13

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

1. Prayer was established by God as a means of dialogue between Himself and His covenant people.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ engaged in prayer in His lifetime and also taught His disciples how to pray (Matthew 14:23, Matthew 6:9-13).
3. As His disciples today, we pray with the assurance of His promise in Matthew 21:22, which says: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.”
4. The fact that our Lord engaged in all night prayer shows how significant prayer is (Luke 6:12). In Matthew 17:21, He revealed to us that some challenges in life may not be overcome without fervent prayers and fasting.
5. God’s attitude and response to prayer differs based on the identity of the person praying. 1 Peter 3:12 says: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
6. Based on this verse of scripture, only those who are in right standing with God should expect answers to their prayers. If you have not received the gift of righteousness which comes from being born again, I implore you to give your life to Jesus today. I pray that every request you make to God as from today shall be answered by fire in Jesus’ Name.
7. Despite the obvious power of prayer and the various examples of answered prayer in the Bible, certain circumstance threaten our very existence and shake the foundations of our faith, causing us to render defeatist prayers to God.
8. A defeatist prayer is the kind of prayer made with an expectation of imminent failure, assumption of hopelessness and a resignation to fate.
9. Defeatist prayers carry a belief that God cannot intervene in the situation at hand. May you never doubt the ability of God to save you in the time of trouble in Jesus’ Name.
10. In Job 29:9, Job’s case got so bad that he was given a defeatist option of cursing God and choosing death. Similarly, after great exploits for God, followed by victories and celebrations, Elijah’s life was threatened by a wicked queen called Jezebel. He became so distressed that he prayed this defeatist prayer in 1 Kings 19:4: “… It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
11. In like manner after the Lord departed from Samson, he lost everything, including his eyesight, and he began to grind corn for his enemies in captivity. This situation forced him to pray a defeatist prayer in Judges 16:30, saying “Let me die with my enemies.”
12. Irrespective of what you are passing through, I encourage you to never render a defeatist prayer to God. Although it might not be easy, remember that your faith is toughened when it passes through fire. Therefore, have faith in God and hold on to Him. Please don’t ever give up on God!

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Believers must learn how to pray effectively and rightly. Anxiety can lead to defeatist prayer and this why apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:6 that “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” With the right prayers and faith, victory is sure for us regardless of how terrible what we are facing is. May God continually empower and increase Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point: Father, please don’t let my faith fail in the day of adversity in Jesus’ Name
Hymn
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamp of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray
Take all my guilt away
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!
While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside
When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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20

Memorise: Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Matthew 18:7
Read: Matthew 18:1-7
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of [a]offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
Bible in one year: Isaiah 43 – 44, Luke 3:7-22

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

1. Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke in very strong terms against offences in today’s Bible reading. I therefore believe it is a wise thing for us to understand what they are and try to avoid them.
2. Offences is a biblical term which refers to an obstruction lying on a pathway over which one may stumble. It is anything that hinders and tends to trip one up in the course of living a righteous life. A hindrance in this regard often stands for temptations to sin.
3. One source of offences that was mentioned by the Lord in His sermons is the cravings of our body (Matthew 18:8-9). Another source which He also mentioned are the people we interact with on a day to day basis (Matthew 18:7, Romans 16:17).
4. The Lord made it clear that a life without any obstacle, hindrance, stumbling block or temptation is impossible, but that anyone who places obstacles in other people’s path or who leads others into sin is already cursed by God (Luke 17:1). Jesus declared that great sorrow awaits them, so that it would have been better if they were not even born. All those who are behind your problems in life shall run into the wrath of the Almighty God in Jesus’ Name.
5. Some people have mastered the art of setting traps for others, and they themselves have become a living trap, supporting anything that ensnares or hinders people from pleasing God and deriving satisfaction from causing people to stumble. They ensnare unsuspecting and ignorant people, and mislead innocent and immature Christians into fatal errors that lead to hell. Greedy for money, power and fame, they consciously build an army of loyal followers in order to exert their influence on them. They falsely appear as saints and subtly present another “gospel” that is completely different from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their message is built on human wisdom and understanding but carefully wrapped in a garb of spirituality. They have a warped understanding of the Bible, which they present as new revelations from God or “prophetic preaching”. Their message of easy-going Christianity has led many people into worldly lifestyles and complacency in holy living. Through their activities, many have missed the high mark of God’s calling.
6. You will notice that some of these offender are experienced pastors who are knowledgeable in the things of God but deliberately mislead others. Therefore, be warned about the existence of such characters within the Church of God.
7. Watch carefully to prevent yourself from falling into their trap. I pray that the rod of the wicked one shall not fall upon your portion, and you will not be led away from the presence of God in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

We should be a light in our world and draw men to God through our character. Never be a stumbling block or an obstruction to anyone! We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God bless and continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye on every side in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, please grant me grace to perceive offences and to live above them in Jesus’ Name.
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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20

Memorise: Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. Genesis 26:12
Read: Genesis 26:12-14
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 41 – 42, Luke 2:41-3:6

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

1. Any farmer who wants to reap a bountiful harvest knows that sowing is a specialized act. In other words, you don’t expect a great harvest when you sow at a time of your own choosing and in a haphazard manner. After soil preparation, sowing is often the next and most important step taken by farmer in anticipation of harvest.
2. The principles of sowing that governs the physical realm are also applicable in the spiritual realm. Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us that there is a right time, which also is the best time, for sowing.
3. Good farmers know very well that the planting of crops is a major event, and its timing depends on the type of seed to be sown.
4. Some factors that determine the right time to sow include the season or time of the year, sunshine and clouds, length of day and night, rainfall pattern and soil fertility. Sowing in the time of famine, being a time of drought, is a ridiculous thing to do, to say the least. Nevertheless, for Isaac in today’s Bible reading, it was the right time, and he experienced the miracle of a hundredfold harvest. His case is a classic example of doing the ridiculous to produce the miraculous. Just as it happened to Isaac, I pray that as you sow into God’s kingdom, you will experience returns in a hundred fold in Jesus’ Name.
5. When is the best time to sow into God’s kingdom? The best time to sow is when you are born again and living in total obedience to the will of God. It is when the source of your livelihood is clean and your way of life is pure, such that you can lift up holy hands to God in adoration and worship (Psalm 24:3-5). It is when curses have been removed, devourers rebuked, cankerworms destroyed and contrary circumstances have been turned around to work in your favour. If for any reason you have missed it somehow and your life does not fit these descriptions, it is never too late with God. You can retrace your steps back home to God for a new beginning – a new beginning of peace, progress and bountiful harvest.
6. Thankfully, it is still the season for sowing, and there I still time to sow righteousness and obedience now, before you face God’s law of harvest based on your deeds (Romans 2:6). It is yet a sunny day, the weather is favourable, and the timing is right. You can set your life on the right path by sowing righteousness, mercy and favour today.
7. Invest into God’s kingdom today and reap a hundredfold in eternity. The best seed you can sow is the seed of your life. Invest your time, money and energy into soul winning activities today, and watch as things will begin to work in your favour. If you are busy doing God’s business, He will also respond by going the extra mile to take care of your family and business.

strong>SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Continous sowing of godly seed should be a character every believer must possess. The best seeds are set aside by real farmers for sowing so as to have an exceptional and bountiful harvest. May we enjoy grace to do the right thing at the right time and in the right way in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye on every side in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, please let my contribution to the expansion of Your kingdom produce hundredfold returns for me in Jesus Name.

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20

Memorise: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
Read: Isaiah 43:1-5
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Bible in one year: Isaiah 38 – 40, Luke 2:22-40

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

1. As mortals, it is natural to look around us for solutions whenever problems arise.
2. Only a few people look to God first during such trying times. When trials and difficulties come our way, we mostly look to our family members or friends for solutions. Imagine how bad God feels whenever you have a problem and He doesn’t even come to your mind first. Because God gave us freewill, He cannot force us to request or accept help from Him.
3. No matter how big, small or strange our problems may be, God has the solution to all of them. When a little child fails and bruises his or her knee, in most cases, the first person that child runs to is the mother. The fact that the child thinks of his or her mother first shows the bond that exists between them.
4. As His children, God expects us to run to Him with whatever problem we have, no matter how small or trivial it may seem. The bond of love that exists between us and Him is what should drive us to think of Him first whenever a problem arises. When we don’t think of Him first at such times, we are saying to Him that this bond of love is not there.
5. Many times, we undo ourselves by trying to solve our own problems. We don’t even realize the immense abilities our Father has and His undying love for us. If we knew, we won’t be wasting our time and energy looking elsewhere for help.
6. When I was a child, on one eventful day, my father was sitting outside and enjoying the cool breeze while I played football. After playing for a little while, I kicked the ball and it got stuck on the roof of the house. Because I was small, I had to move back some distance from the house in order to see the ball. Whenever I tried to get the ball down with a stick, I failed because I couldn’t see the ball when I got close to the house. I went back and forth like this until I got tired. All the while, my father just sat there as if he didn’t know what was going on. Tired and exhausted, I turned to him for help. His response was surprising. He said he was wondering if I didn’t see him there all the time while I was struggling. He stood up and hit the ball off the roof in one swipe of his hands.
7. God is right beside you, watching as you struggle with your issues. If you don’t call Him to help, it means you don’t need Him. Be wise and hand over your problems to the Lord who made heaven and earth.
8. However, note that you cannot ask someone to help you if you don’t have a relationship with that fellow, and the probability that he or she will help you depends on how cordial your relationship is.
9. When you have a good relationship with God, the moment you cry out to Him for anything, He will come running to you, and He will answer according to His perfect will.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Matthew 11:28 says ”Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Anyone that runs to Him for help will surely return rejoicing. ”They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” Psalm 34:5 God be praised for blessing our generation with Pastor E.A Adeboye. May God continually strengthen and uphold him in Jesus name.

Action Point: Next time a challenge or difficulty arises, look first to God!
Hymn
1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home.
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same
4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
Thy fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
6. 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: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2
Read: Galatians 2:11-17
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 36-37, Luke 2:1-21

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

1. Preaching is the act of proclaiming the good news in the word of God. it generally involves the delivery of some truth related to God to an audience for whom the message is prepared. To preach therefore, is to declare a word from God or to publicly present the good news. Preaching is expressed through proclamation, prophecy, declaration or teaching. It includes the proclamation of the way of instructions on faith and spiritual worship to believers. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Holy Spirit indicates that rebuke is an integral part of preaching the good news.
To rebuke or reprove is to make a verbal expression of blame that is usually not easy for an individual to accept or accommodate. However, it is an essential part of the gospel. For this reason, the Holy Spirit said in Proverbs 27:5 “Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
2. The word of God gives example of both divine and human rebuke. Sometimes, God issues rebukes directly, but more often than not, He does so through His servants. Jesus Christ taught His disciples the perfect way to issue rebukes, and He taught His audience how to handle people who commit errors, without condemning them. God has the absolute right to rebuke His children who stray from the path of righteousness. He does this sometimes by speaking directly to such people through dreams and revelations, but at other times, He chooses to speak through His ministers. For instance, God used Prophet Samuel to rebuke King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:12-26, He used Prophet Nathan to rebuke King David in 2 Samuel 12:1-12, and Prophet Elijah rebuked King Ahab in 1 Kings 18:18. Furthermore,
3. Jesus Christ rebuked Peter, one of His disciples, in Mark 8:33, and He also rebuked demons and their master the devil. Matthew 17:18 says:
‘And Jesus rebuked the devil; and the departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.”
In today’s Bible reading, when Apostle Peter and some other Jewish brethren like Barnabas engaged in discrimination and pretence, Paul rebuked them sharply. We should not shy away from rebuke because when it comes from the Spirit, it convicts those who hear it. As children of God, we ought to sharply rebuke and correct visible faults on issues relating to discipline, dressing, punctuality and commitment to duties, interpersonal relationships, sanitation, and our general attitude to worship.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Rebuke is so important to the extent that we must allow even the bible to rebuke and correct us. As the bible says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.until we humble ourselves for correction through the scripture, prophets and even the Holy Spirit, living to the standard of God will be a challenge. In other words, when men of God through the leading of the HolySpirit rebuke us, let us accept it with love knowing that it is from God. May God gives us the Grace to work out our salvation with humility and tender heart to obey every instruction from God. Glory to God for the life of Pastor E.A Adeboye for this devotional.

Prayer Point:
Father, please don’t rebuke me in Your wrath,, and give me a heart that is yielded to correction in Jesus Name.
HYMN
I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
1. I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.
2. I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
3. I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
4. I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
5. I need thee every hour
Most Holy one;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

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20

Memorise: And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Luke 4:27
Read: 2 Kings 5:8-14
8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 33 – 35, Luke 1:57-80

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

1. Instantaneous restoration is a miracle that occurs suddenly. Immediate resolutions of human problems and challenges like this are highly desired and sought after. The Bible contains several accounts of divine interventions that resulted in instant miracles, signs and wonders, one of which is the healing Naaman.
2. Naaman had been a leper for many years, but after he dipped himself into River Jordan seven times, he was cleansed immediately and his skin became like that of a little child (2 King 5:14). Similarly, the woman with the issue of blood had suffered for twelve years before she met with Jesus (mark 5:25-29).
3. As a matter of fact, she had exhausted all she had without any solution. However, immediately she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, her issue of blood ceased. Another example of instant restoration is seen in 2 Kings 7:1. After about three years of terrible famine. Elisha prophesied that there would be a food surplus in Samaria within 24hours, and it happened as he said. In Matthew 8:3, the moment Jesus touched a leprous fellow who had been in that condition for years, the man became cleansed instantly. Also, in John 5:1-9, once the impotent man who had been at the pool of Bethseda for thirty-eight years heard the words of Jesus, he was completely whole. I pray that whatever you are passing through at the moment will receive the immediate attention of heaven, and you will get instant restoration in Jesus’ Name.
4. Note however that behind every seemingly instantaneous miracle, there has been meticulous obedience, stubborn truth, perseverance, serious fasting prayers, and sometimes prolonged pain, sorrow and shame. What appeared on the surface as instant restoration did not exactly come easy for Naaman, Joseph, Hannah, the people of Samaria, Zechariah and Elisabeth, and several others. Most of these people paid the price in perseverance, stubborn faith, fasting and prayers etc. for example, the people of Samaria had to endure a situation where the dung of birds became an expensive delicacy and some women actually ate their own children.
5. In the case of Zechariah and Elisabeth, they waited for so long that they completely lost any hope of bearing a child. The impotent man at the pool of Bethseda had no hope of restoration after thirty-eight years of waiting for an opportunity that kept eluding him. One thing that kept all these people going was perseverance. Perseverance is maintaining your faith in God even in trying times. Every Christian is expected to faithfully endure hardship, persecution and trials. Through consistent prayers, we are expected to remain steadfast in the face of exposition, attack and discouragement (James 5:13, Ephesians 6:18).
6. I pray that God will grant you the type of endurance that can withstand any of life’s storms without giving up in Jesus’ Name/

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’

One key word from the devotional of today is perseverance, Let us consider what Jesus said in Luke 18:1-8 “1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” May God continue to bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and replenish him with more virtue.

Prayer Point:
Father, please uphold me and see me through every storm of life in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
Read: Mark 7:20-23
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.
21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,
22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Bible in one year: Isaiah 30–32, Luke 1:26-56

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

1. Bad habits may initially start as harmless actions or inactions that can be easily overlooked. Nevertheless, don’t be deceived, bad habits can ruin a person’s life and prevent him or her from achieving God’s plan and purpose over time.
2. Bad habits don’t start suddenly; they become habits after an individual fails to stop them early enough. Over time, they grow into something big and difficult to control, having enough power to destroy the destiny of their victim.
3. Is there a character flaw in you that people are beginning to complain about, or do you find yourself indulging in things that you know are inappropriate? Attack that character flaw now before it destroys you.
4. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus made it clear that a person is defiled by what comes from inside him or her, and that evil thoughts originate from within the heart. This is equally true for bad habits.
5. Before a habit is formed, it starts as thoughts and suggestions that seem harmless. If a fellow chooses to accept these thoughts and suggestions, dwells on them and begins to cultivate them in his or her heart, they will soon begin to manifest outwardly in that person’s speech, actions and motives. If the fellow does not quickly notice the character flaw and take steps to change it, it becomes a habit that will end up defining him or her.
6. For example, some people have the habit of going late to meetings. It usually starts with thoughts like “I’m sure this meeting won’t start at the time stated,” and before long, they will find themselves arriving late to every single meeting.
7. For some people, it is the way they eat. When they are indoors, they say to themselves “Let me eat the way I like; after all, nobody is watching me.” They then become accustomed to eating in an uncultured or unhealthy manner, and they end up embarrassing themselves when they eat like that in public. Habits, small as they may seem, can be very costly if not managed properly. As a young man, I once lost a chance for commonwealth scholarship abroad because I had poor eating habits.
8. Lastly, many people look at children of God and make conclusions about God from what they see in their lives.
9. Don’t let your habit give God a bad reputation. Be careful what you do and how you do it.
10. Most times, people don’t come and tell you about your bad habits, but they can see it all. This is why you need to watch yourself.
11. Ask for the truth on any bad habits you may have from someone close enough to be sincere and open with you. I pray that you will become so filled with the Holy Spirit that all your word and actions will be directed by Him alone in Jesus’ name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Many of us believers have allowed habit that are not supposed to be seen in us grow and even abide in us.
The Lord will uproot every of such from us and help us to conciously stop it in Jesus name. May God continually empower Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point: Find someone close to you who you know will be honest with you and ask him or her to tell you the bad habits they may have observed in you.
Hymn
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
I need thee every hour
Most Holy one;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

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Memorise: Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13
Read: Ezekiel 37:11-14
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord. ”
Bible in one year: Isaiah 28-29, Luke 1:1-25

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

1. Hopelessness or despair is a state marked by great difficulty, doubt, desperation, heaviness and embarrassment, causing one to be confounded, to give up hope or to be at a loss on what to do.
2. Shame is also implied, as hopelessness leads to hanging one’s head low in a daze or confusion.
3. What do you do when life leaves you with no money, no source of livelihood, no food and no place to lay your head? What do you do when there is no way of providing for your family, especially if you have little children? What do you do when you are faced with medical, financial or psychological problems that seem to defy all solution? What do you do when calamity or devastation comes against you unexpectedly and you have exhausted all channels of resolution without respite? Many in such situations have chosen the dark path that eventually leads to death, either by way of murder or suicide. I pray for anyone who may be passing through difficult times at this moment: the Lord will help you, He will make a way for you out of your troubles, and you will live to share your testimony with the world in Jesus’ Name.
4. So much evil comes forth from situations of hopelessness. In 1 Samuel 31:4, after King Saul had been badly wounded, he lost every hope of divine intervention or recovery, and he committed suicide by falling on his sword. Similarly, in 2 Samuel 17:23, the moment Ahitophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he was filled with shame and embarrassment, so much so that he took his own life. After Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus, his heart was stricken by guilt, and he hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). I pray that the type of hopelessness that drove these men to commit suicide will never be your portion in Jesus name.
5. Are you confronted by a hopeless situation, or are you stricken with deep sorrow and pain? I want you to encourage yourself in the Lord your God, just like David did after he lost everything he had ever labored for (1 Samuel 30:6).
6. The Almighty is our hope, our salvation and our peace. In your deepest sorrow and greatest moments of despair, please avoid the temptation of seeking respite in alcohol, hard drugs or any other mind-bending substances.
7. Always turn to God for help, because you can always count on Him to console you and make a way out of that hopelessness situation.
8. I pray that no matter what you are passing through, you will not take any step that will lead to destruction in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Regardless of the circumstance that is making you to loose hope in God, having read today’s devotional, your hope should be risen in Christ Jesus. He’s able to make every dead situation come alive again. “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”Colossians‬ ‭1:27‬. May your strength be renewed in Jesus name. Blessed is Pastor E.A Adeboye for this wonderful devotional.

Prayer Point: Father, please turn every hopeless situation in my life around for good in Jesus’ Name.
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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Memorise: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8
Read: 2 peter 2:1-3
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 24-27, Mark 15: 33-16:8
 

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

1. As Christians living in these end times, we have to be very careful of the source and nature of what we allow into our minds.
2. In today’s bible reading, the holy spirit warns us to be wary of false prophets that will arise from among people, secretly bringing up destructive heresies with the aim of taking people’s focus away from Christ.
3. Many of the sermons preached in today’s churches are focused on prosperity, faith, grace, deliverance, and so on. I have no problem with these topics; they are essential parts of the good news. However, many preachers discuss them to such extremes that the resultant effect is a bunch of malnourished souls in the church today.
4. These preachers are out to satisfy their own message, and so they twist scriptures to fit their own message, to look good in the sight of people and to get gifts from them. The holy spirit spoke about such preachers in Romans 16:18, saying: “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”.
5. As a heaven bound child of God, your spiritual nutrition is of utmost importance.
6. If you are not well nourished spiritually in your local assembly, or you notice that your spiritual growth is stunted, then it is time for you to leave that assembly and prayerfully look for another place where your spiritual needs will be met.
7. You must avoid churches where the lifestyle of Christ is not preached.
Steer clear of churches where the death and resurrection of Jesus are never preached.
8. Shun sermons that encourage tribalism, and be careful of churches that glorify any individual or individuals other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself. The early apostles preached nothing but Jesus Christ. Paul himself said in 1 Corinthians 2:2:
“for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”.
9. Run away from preachers whose sermons leave you comfortable in your sins.
10. Holy living must be emphasized in whatever church you prayerfully decide to join, and the bible must be upheld as the foundation of the church’s doctrines.
11. The holy spirit must be the one who leads and directs the activities in your chosen church: this is a sign that God is present there.
12. If you are presently under the influence of a destructive preacher, I pray for you today that the Lord will redeem you and connect you with spirit-led preachers in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13‭-14. Any believer with the the spirit of God will do only things that will glorify the father. Anything around contrary to the word of God should be avoided like a plague. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15 May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action point:
Take a look at your present church. If your spiritual growth has not increased significantly since you joined them, prayerfully look for another church where your spiritual needs will be met.
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;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
Then, with my walking 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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