Memorise; Let all things be done decently and in order. 1st Corinthians 14:40
Read: 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-12
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 5-6, Ezekiel 34:25-35:15

1. Through the Lord’s Prayer, we understand that everything that happens in Heaven is nothing short of God’s will. Matthew 6:10 says, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
2. This implies that Heaven is not a place where you go and sin, disobey or do anything that God does not approve of.
3. Heaven is not for haters of God but for those who truly love Him. For this reason, anyone who cannot fit into God’s will on earth would not be allowed to pass through the gates of Heaven. (Revelation 22:15).
4. To enter into God’s place of abode, God expects you to start living the life of Heaven right here on earth. It is possible to achieve this when you give your life to Jesus Christ and allow Him to live His life through you (Galatians 2:20).
5. Therefore, if there is one thing you must do in order to make Heaven, it is to fit into God’s plan for your life and pursue nothing short of His will, just as Jesus Christ did (John 4:34).
6. If you cannot walk in His will throughout your lifetime on earth, there is no way for you to get into Heaven.
7. In the same vein, it is very important to do things in order.
8. God is a God of order.
9. To do things in order means to follow the format, principles and protocols laid down by a higher authority. There is order and protocol in Heaven.
10. To do well in your race to Heaven, you need to understand and follow this divine order and protocol (1st Chronicles 15:12-13). Although the Bible says there is only one God, it further reveals that this God is in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
11. In John 10:30, Jesus declared that He and His Father are one, and yet while referring to the persons of the Trinity, in Matthew 28:19, He followed a certain order; He said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
12. When we therefore baptize believers in Christ, it must be done following the order declared by the Lord Himself. We do not say because Jesus Christ has a Name that is above every other name, that the order should be changed to read: God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and God the Father.
13. When you violate the law of order, you violate the will of God. Nothing is done just for fun in Heaven; everything there is done to reflect God’s will, law or order.
14. There is a divine arrangement in place in Heaven: God is on His throne, the four living beings come next, and then the 24 elders (Revelation 4:2-6). That is divine order.
15. In serving God, you must do everything decently and in order. How compliant are you in this?

God is the God of order and everyone who wants to journey with Him must follow suit. Living by the principles of God is a must for every believer that wants to make Heaven. If your destination is Heaven, its better to start practicing orderliness here on earth. Brethren, let us be cautious of every of His command and know that exhibiting the will of the Father while here on earth is not optional, as the bible says thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Matt 6 10. I pray for such Grace that will enable me to abide by God’s principles in Jesus name. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that God will equip him for greater works in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, grant me grace to live by Your principles in this world and to follow Your guidelines in all that I do.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 
 

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20

Memorise: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1st Peter 3:16
Read: 2nd Samuel 12:7-14
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 1-4, Ezekiel 34:11-24

1. A true representative of a good family will do everything possible to protect name of the family. For this reason, Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
2. If you are a worthy child of God, you will do all you can to honour God’s Name, and you will never bring it into disrepute.
3. Honouring God’s Name goes beyond lip service; God expects you to prove that you honour Him through your actions.
4. In 1st Samuel 17:1-51, David was angry that an uncircumcised Philistine could boldly insult the God of Israel, and yet nobody could do anything about it. He therefore took up the challenge of defending God’s Name. What have you done to defend or honour God’s Name?
5. In what way has your nation, state, community or even your workplace recognised the Lordship and greatness of God above all other gods because of your presence there? The patriarchs of old were not ashamed to stand for this same God, even at the cost of their lives (Hebrews 11:36-37). But how is it with you today? Are you even ashamed to publicly associate yourself with Jesus Christ, so that your peers and superiors will not look down on you?
6. If you truly hallow God’s Name, then under no circumstance would you defile that Name.
7. When someone looks at you and say, “How could you do this? And you call yourself a child of God!” Those words will go through you like a hot iron if your conscience is alive. If those words were spoken to you because you truly did err from the faith, you would feel pain in your heart, become miserable and feel ashamed of yourself. If indeed your conscience is alive, in such a moment, you would see yourself as a wretched sinner and immediately run to the cross of Calvary for mercy and forgiveness.
8. If your conscience is however dead, you may not feel a thing and just move on as if nothing ever happened.
9. Is your conscience still alive? Does it warn you before you do any evil? Does it prick you when you sin?
10. In 2nd Samuel 11, David and Bathsheba fell into the sin of adultery. By the time Nathan confronted David over this evil act, he felt horrible. He was broken and in pain. God told him that his actions had brought shame and disgrace to His Name (2nd Samuel 12:14). David genuinely repented, and God forgave him.
11. At what stage do you realise you have sinned, and what is your response to this realisation?

Sin has become a norm to many believers. They intentionally ignore the voice of the holyspirit calling their attention to a wrong act and attitude. They gradually allow their conscience die off because of lust, love of the world and temporary benefits. How sad! however, the good news is that there is always room in Christ for forgiveness for every sinner who will go to Him for salvation. If anyone falls in the category of those whose conscience is dead either knowingly or unknowingly, going back to our Saviour is the best thing to do. It is a great privilege to study the Open Heavens devotional daily. May God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, from now on, may I never bring shame to Your Name by my deeds.
HYMN
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. Refrain

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20

Memorise: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Proverbs 6:2
Read: Genesis 35:16-19
16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 28-29, Ezekiel 33:30-34:10

1. Blessings and curses are two of the most powerful forces on earth, even though they function in opposite ways.
2. When present in any life, either of them can seriously affect the destiny of their recipient. Psalm 37:22 says, “For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”
3. What does this mean? It means that if God blesses you, there is nothing you desire that you cannot get. This is why I am amazed whenever I come across some of my children and they say to me, “Daddy, please pray for me”, and when I respond saying “God bless you”, they still ask me to further pray for them. I tell such people that I have already prayed the greatest prayer anyone can pray for them, because if God blesses someone, all his or her problems will be over. As a user of this devotional, I say to you, God bless you!
4. Proverbs 10:22 reveals the power of the blessings that God gives; it says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
5. If you are blessed of the Lord, you will definitely inherit the earth. You will have all you want. However, if you are cursed by God, you will find out that when God curses a person, that fellow will sooner or later become desolate.
6. What is a curse? A curse is an invitation to all the forces in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth to combine forces and resources to work against a person, until he or she is completely destroyed. So when an individual is cursed, demons, men, animals and even the elements will work against that fellow.
7. Let us consider the example of Rachael in Genesis 31:31-35. After Jacob served Laban, he finally left to return home. Then came Laban in hot pursuit after Jacob, and he caught up with him. Laban then said to him, “You have taken my two daughters and my cattle, and now you have equally stolen my idols.” Jacob denied stealing the idols and said whoever stole them should die. Unknown to him, his beloved wife Rachel had stolen these idols and sat on them. They checked everywhere but the idols were not found. Jacob thereafter left Laban in annoyance. Later on, in Genesis 35:16-19, shortly after delivering her next child, Rachel died. The curse her husband had pronounced eventually worked against her.
8. May you not use your own mouth to undo yourself or members of your family in Jesus’ Name!

There is power in our tongues and we should know this. We should also know the fact that we are blessed by God and cannot be cursed. He has also made us a blessing and we should indeed be a blessing to others and not curse them. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Numbers 23:23 The Lord’s blessing was on Isreal and this is why in the face of different storms they faced they triumphed. Even when Balak hired to curse them he ended up blessing them. (Number 23) We are the seed of Abraham, joint heirs with Christ and heirs according to the promise. We are blessed and should live in this consciousness therefore every curse over any believer should not stand. We are blessed and this shall be evident in our lives. May God continually bless and increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
A curse makes a person the target of negative forces.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 

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20

Memorize: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraifeth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
Read: Daniel 1:18-20
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 25:27, Ezekiel 33:21-29

1. Wisdom is the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations.
2. Wisdom is fundamentally practical in nature.
3. Although God alone possesses wisdom in the absolute sense, as benevolent God, He is willing to give His wisdom to all those who seek it in humble reverence (James 1:5). We see the wisdom of God manifested in the work of creation and in the provision of redemption from sin through Jesus Christ.
4. Divine wisdom refers to the abilities given by God in every area of life including recognising and applying the provision of salvation through Christ Jesus, craftsmanship, knowledge and insight for right decisions in life, and several others.
5. Divine wisdom cannot be received by those who put their confidence in worldly wisdom, which is based on human cleverness and insight without God’s revelation.
6. God considers this human kind of wisdom to be foolishness. It may produce temporary success in life, but this will come to nothing in the long run. 1st Corinthians 3:19-20 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
7. Worldly wisdom builds pride and false hope in people, so much so that it makes them arrogate success to themselves to the exclusion of the Almighty God (Proverbs 26:12, Isaiah 47:10). In Isaiah 29:14, God has declared that worldly wisdom shall perish.
8. Wisdom has its roots in knowledge.
9. Wisdom is the ability to correctly make use of acquired knowledge.
10. Divine wisdom leads to proper conduct because it is built on the fear of God (Job 28:28).
11. One of the dimensions that the Holy Spirit operates in is wisdom (Isaiah 11:2).
12. Those who desire to possess divine wisdom will therefore need to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him (Proverbs 1:20-26).
13. The Holy Spirit can fill a man’s heart with divine wisdom through the diligent study of God’s word (Psalms 19:7).
14. He can also give divine wisdom through revelation. This revelation can come in the place of observing how others live their lives, or through the study of nature.
15. Wisdom may also be received as a result of practical experiences of life and from parental guidance.
16. Divine wisdom can only be received by those who are willing to give up all reliance on their own human insight and understanding.
17. As you seek for divine wisdom by one or a combination of ways mentioned here, God will answer you and fill you up with His divine wisdom in Jesus’ Name.

As rightly defined by Pastor E.A ADEBOYE in today’s devotional “Wisdom has its roots in knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to correctly make use of acquired knowledge” . However, divine wisdom is greatly beyond human wisdom and the only source of acquisition of such wisdom is from the Almighty God. Also if we genuinely engage with the person of the Holy Spirit, having divine revelation will not be a challenge to us. Believers can’t accomplish much without divine wisdom as the Bible says Ecclesiastes 10:10 “Wisdom is profitable to direct. Hence, being able to consistently inquire and acquire from God is greatly profitable for decision making. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for blessing us with the word of God daily in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please teach me Your ways and lead me through the path of wisdom in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, 
Homes where the Master’s will is sought, 
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
2 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the father is true and strong, 
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, 
Homes that are joyous with love and song; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
3 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the mother, in caring quest, 
Strives to show others Your way is best, 
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
4 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the children are led to know 
Christ in His beauty who loves them so, 
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes!
 

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20

Memorise: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
Read: Romans 15:4-5
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 22-24, Ezekiel 33:10-20

1. We are blessed to have a God that does not desert those who belong to Him.
2. In Hebrews 13:5, God promised never to leave nor forsake His own.
3. The divine presence of the Great Shepherd strengthens His sheep, so much so that they entertain no fear.
4. If you are His sheep, He is always with you; even when you cannot feel Him.
5. Do you know that in those moments when it appears as if God has gone on a journey, He is much more around you than you can imagine? When He promised to be with us always, He was not joking (Matthew 28:20).
6. Are you a sheep of the Great Shepherd? Are you feeling lonely or does it appear that God has forsaken you? He has not. He is right there by your side. He can hear your voice and your whisper. He can even hear your unvoiced wishes, and He will answer you. However, do everything to remain His sheep. Remain within His fold and shun every temptation to stray to the left or to the right.
7. If Jesus is the Shepherd of your soul, you will not lack comfort because He has promised to comfort you through His rod and staff (Psalm 23:4).
8. No one can make it through this pilgrim’s way without the comfort of the Great Shepherd.
9. One way we receive comfort today, as followers of Jesus Christ, is through the Holy Spirit. Hence, John 14:16 says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
10. When you go through loss or experience some very painful situations, you need the comfort of the Spirit to restore you to a state of peace. The Holy Spirit is so good at this. If however you create a gulf between yourself and the Holy Spirit, how would you then be comforted in the time of need?
11. From experience, the comfort you get from fellow human beings is grossly inadequate. Why? At best, man’s attempt at comforting you may satisfy mainly physical needs, but the comfort of the Holy Spirit can reach out to all areas of need, particularly the realm of the soul.
12. Another way of accessing real soothing comfort is from the word of God. Romans 15:4 says that this kind of comfort does not only deal with the unrest in your heart, but it also gives you hope. This is one reason why you should never be far from the Bible.
13. The word of God inspires hope.
14. If you feel hopeless, check yourself; you may find out that God’s word is scarce in your heart.
15. Are you feeling hopeless or in need of comfort? Reach out for God’s word today.

The Holyspirit is our great comforter. However, when we shun his leading or ignore his love, voice and comfort he goes mute. Many times when grieving, the Holy Spirit leads us to certain scripture that lifts our burden instantly once we yield to the leading. This is a pointer to total submission to the Lord through obedience to His word and His Spirit. It’s well with us as we yield to His word and spirit in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
One crucial time you need the comfort of the Holy Spirit is when you are passing through a wilderness experience.
HYMN
1 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, 
Homes where the Master’s will is sought, 
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
2 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the father is true and strong, 
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, 
Homes that are joyous with love and song; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
3 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the mother, in caring quest, 
Strives to show others Your way is best, 
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
4 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the children are led to know 
Christ in His beauty who loves them so, 
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes!
 

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20

Memorise: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Read: Acts 17:24-31
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 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;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 19-21, Ezekiel 32:29-33:9

1. Many Christians interpret today’s memory verse with the notion that God favours some individuals or groups of people over others. This idea eventually developed into doctrine of “Election”, which suggests that some people are predestined for salvation and others for damnation.
2. Consequently, this doctrine of election has raised a lot of difficult questions in the minds of several people.
3. Why should a just and loving God favour certain individuals or groups of people over others? Why should a loving God command the elimination of some people without mercy?
4. A proper and diligent study of the Bible would lay these questions to rest permanently. Even a cursory look at the word of God shows clearly that God is good to all. He is not partial; neither is He a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
5. The above scripture makes it clear that Jesus was given for all men and women from all nations on the face of the earth, and anyone who believes in Him will obtain salvation. Therefore, those with warped interpretations of Scriptures that present our God in bad light, all in the name of “theology”, are not speaking the mind of God.
6. Through the manifestation of Jesus Christ, the whole world, without exception, stands before God with equal opportunity and access to the grace, mercy, favour and love of God. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
7. No matter who you are, you can come to Jesus with boldness and He will never reject or turn you down.
8. The statement in 1st Peter 2:9 is therefore absolutely correct for everyone who has accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives. If you are one of such people, you can say with certainty that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a member of a holy nation.
9. You are specially chosen to live in holiness and righteousness, to show forth the glory of God in all ramifications of life, and to live in good health, joy and peace.
10. Since you have been chosen for a divine purpose, I pray that you will surely fulfil your destiny in Jesus’ Name.

We are chosen, loved, saved and glorified not by our works but by grace. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”Titus 3:4‭-‬6 The only thing required of us to be entitled to being a holy nation, royal priesthood and a peculiar people is confession of Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It is not a title but reality of who a believer is in Christ. May God be praised forever more for the privilege of being called His own in Jesus name. May God renew Pastor E.A Adeboye’s strength in Jesus name.

Action Point
Thank God for who you are in Christ Jesus as revealed in 1st Peter 2:9. Confess each of the titles that describe your standing in Christ in this verse of Scripture.
HYMN
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
[Chorus]
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
[Chorus]
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
[Chorus]

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20

Memorise: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1st Corinthians 15:58
Read: Nehemiah 2:1-8
1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 16:18, Ezekiel 32:16-28

1. A builder is a person who is capable of handling the design, planning and construction of a building project.
2. A builder is obligated to execute a building project in compliance with the specifications of the blueprint he or she has been given.
3. Throughout the Bible, terms like building, foundation, house, temple, building block and cornerstones, are used figuratively. For example, the Bible presents God as a Builder in Hebrews 11:10, while 1st Corinthians 3:11 presents the Christian faith as a building which has Jesus Christ as the foundation.
4. Consequently, ministers of the gospel are co-labours with God and also builder (1st Corinthians 3:9).
5. Similarly, the duties and responsibilities of a minister of God can be compared to that of a builder in many ways. A builder should be a wise person who is skilled in the art and science of construction. Likewise, a minister of the gospel should be skilful in the art of building the souls of men. No ignorant preacher should be given this sensitive assignment.
6. A builder takes special care to lay the right foundation and selects the right materials to make the building well suited for the foundation. In like manner, ministers of God must be mindful of the materials they use in building the Church of God.
7. Christ is our Living Foundation who requires the use of living stones for building the Church (1st Peter 2:5-6).
8. Sometimes, a builder must first pull down an old structure and remove the resultant debris before laying a new foundation. Ministers of the gospel must also pull down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and remove the debris of many errors, indiscipline, false doctrines and damnable heresies.
9. There is an aspect of the building profession that involves creativity and craftsmanship. By these set of skills, much beauty, innovation, artistry, colour and style is achieved in a building project.
10. Similarly, the introduction of creative ideas into various aspects of the work of the gospel has produced enviable results across the world. However, caution must be applied because the Bible views certain creative works as whitewashed sepulchres (Matthew 23:27).
11. The decision to accept or reject any creative work is not driven by the work itself, but is determined by the spirit that motivates the worker.
12. Fine craftsmen can prostitute their talents by producing beautiful idols.
13. The Church of God is a work in progress and every Christian is duty-bound to make their contributions in compliance with the blueprint of Jesus and according to God’s specifications.
14. Let everyone take heed and watch how they build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Jesus has laid genuine and perfect foundation that must be followed by every believer regardless of your position or status. Ministers of the God should therefore follow such leading and build on the foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please don’t let me suffer loss in life and ministry; let my efforts and contributions to the advancement of the gospel be rewarded in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 
 

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Memorise: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1st Corinthians 6:20
Read: 2nd Timothy 2:22-23
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 13-15, Ezekiel 32:1-15

1. While it is important for you to admit your mistakes with sorrowful heart, it is also important that you learn from these mistakes. Ask yourself: “How did I get here? What did I do wrong? How could I have avoided this outcome?”
2. To live triumphantly in this world, you need to pay very close attention to what the word of God says and follow it to the letter. 1st Peter 5:8-9 says you should steadfastly resist the devil, so if you resist, but do not steadfastly resist, you will surely fall.
3. On the other hand, in 1st Corinthians 6:18, we are commanded to flee fornication. In this case, God does not require resistance from you, but that you should take to your heels! If you then try to resist instead of running, you will surely fall.
4. Similarly, 2nd Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Clearly, there is a time to stand and a time to run.
5. If you stand when you should run, you will most likely fall.
6. Sometimes ago, I told male pastors not to have female secretaries, but some of them who thought they were wiser than I, called it gender discrimination. I told them that after they had become causalities of their wrong decisions, they would remember that I had earlier warned them. One of my very good sons, who knew the Bible very well, hired a female secretary. I asked him, “What are you doing? How can you be in the same office with this lady smiling at you? Eventually, you will end up working late with her. Go and ease her out.” He dragged his feet on this. Today, this same person is out of the ministry, out of his home and jobless. If not that he lives in a country where the government provides food for the jobless, he would have starved.
7. Some leaders are still toying with danger.
8. Some piglets once asked the mother pig, “Why are you always grunting? “The mother pig replied, “When you are as old as I am, you will know why.”
9. Avoid any source of temptation!
10. Resist when you should and run when you should.
11. Some people take it as an act of cowardice to run from those they feel sexually attracted to. No! It is not cowardice, it is wisdom!
12. God knows how He wired your body, so if He says you should run in a particular situation, please run for your dear life!

For every believer, to heed is better than sacrifice. “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22” Whenever God tells us to do something, it is wise for us to do without any delay or extra thought. This is because His precept is the best to follow. He knows the end from the beginning and desires for us to be safe away from the devil’s wiles. The small prophet that disobeyed God’s instruction ended up being killed. (1 Kings 13) By running after resisting is therefore profitable to anyone who will. May God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for this great devotional and renew his strength in Jesus name.

Action Point
The Bible has the antidote to every situation; apply it diligently and you will never fall.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 

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Memorise: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
Read: Matthew 25:14-23
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 11:12, Ezekiel 31:10-18

1. Christianity entails total submission to the will of God as revealed in His word.
2. A Christian must view God as the ultimate owner of everything, who decides to delegate and distribute a certain measure of His resources to each and every person, according to their ability, for the purpose of making profit.
3. In reality, all that we own isn’t really ours; they are blessings that have been graciously bestowed on us by the Lord (John 3:27).
4. For all that God has given to us, there’s an expectation that comes along with them.
5. The word “stewardship” summarises this arrangement.
6. A steward is a special servant employed to oversee and manage the affairs of a household according to the dictates of the owner. He or she is simply a servant who has been entrusted with the authority to make decisions on behalf of his or her master.
7. All purchases pertaining to the running of a household are made by the steward. Even some very important decisions are made by stewards. For example, Abraham entrusted his steward, Eliezer of Damascus, with the crucial responsibility of choosing a wife for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:2-4).
8. A true Christian operates under the same dynamics today.
9. As a steward over the heritage of God, you should be able to operate without supervision. Everything you do should be done as unto the Lord. You should make certain that the resources you are entrusted with are put to proper use for God and not for personal gain.
10. As God’s steward, you should do everything to ensure that the Lord’s resources are carefully deployed to accomplish His agenda.
11. A steward is a trustworthy ambassador that sometimes stands in the place of God to make decisions and take actions that could have far-reaching effects on people lives.
12. Christian stewardship is therefore an awesome responsibility that should be handled with utmost care. May you never mishandle your responsibility as a representative of the Almighty God in Jesus’ Name.
13. God has very important assignments He wants to execute in this world, and He has entrusted some of these into your hands. One of such assignments is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
14. God has chosen you as His primary tool to accomplish this awesome task, and He has appointed and equipped you to carry His message of salvation to those who are lost in sin. You must therefore take up this responsibility and fulfil the heartbeat of God.
15. In conclusion, here in this world, there are innumerable benefits awaiting all obedient servants of God.
16. However, the most important reward for profitable stewardship is to be a guest of Jesus at His marriage supper, and to stand before God’s throne to receive commendation and the crown of life from the Master. You will make it in Jesus’ Name.

Total submission and 100% obedience is what every believer who is a true steward should do to God’s will. Everything about our work on earth revolves around obeying God daily as we go by in our daily activities. We must channel all resources and effort to accomplish the task of heaven citizen and ambassador here on earth. May we never be a vessel unto dishonour in Jesus name. God bless and continually strength Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, help me to be worthy of the ultimate reward for profitable stewardship in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 
 

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Memorise: And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Luke 12:47
Read: Matthew 25:24-30
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 8-10, Ezekiel 30:20-31:9

1. An unprofitable servant is generally identified as a steward that fails to put his or her talents to profitable use for his or her master. He or she is a wasteful person who is pleased to keep the master’s investment from yielding any profit. 
2. Among all the servants mentioned in the Bible, it was only the unprofitable servant that had the disrespectful behaviour of complaining and bringing charges against his lord. He had the audacity to accuse his master to his face of being a difficult and greedy person, wanting to reap where he did not sow! He created the impression that his master had all along been wicked, unfair and insensitive.
3. Although the unprofitable servant tried to portray himself as a humble and obedient servant, he ended up giving himself off as a self-righteous person, who had mastered the art of making excuses to cover up for slothfulness and failure. Trying to justify himself, he falsely argued that he became indolent and unproductive out of fear for his master. He forgot that a master’s commandment is a servant’s duty.
4. As a matter of fact, a servant always owes a debt of service to his or her master (Luke 17:7-10).
5. The unprofitable servant tried so hard to justify himself but he failed woefully.
6. God is not mocked; the excuses you have prepared to use on the Day of Judgment will not stand the rest of His scrutiny.
7. Brethren, every excuse that we give for failure to obey the commandments of God with regards to the use of our talents is simply evidence of rebellion against God.
8. The excuse that the unprofitable servant gave is the command plea of many Christians today, who complain that the Almighty God has no right to demand for the use of their time, money and ability for the promotion of His kingdom.
9. If you fail to put your God-given talents to profitable use, on the day of reckoning, you will hear the denunciation pronounced against the unprofitable servant: “Take therefore the talent from him!”
10. I pray that you will never receive words of condemnation from God in Jesus’ Name.
11. Many would ask, “What wrong have I done?” Search your heart. Have you fixed your Lord’s money in huge deposits and savings accounts, or tied up his investments in properties, exotic cars, exclusive furniture and an expensive lifestyle, all the while leaving souls to perish in their sins? Do you prefer to bury your talents out of selfishness because you care more about yourself and less about God and the expansion of His kingdom? Have you deliberately refused to put God’s endowments in your life to profitable use; thereby causing the benefits and profits due to God and man to be totally lost?
12. To be commended by the Master, we need to repent of our selfish lifestyle and yield to God in complete obedience.

One way or the other, believers consciously and unconsciously give excuses for not doing what the Lord has called them to do. Some died without fulfilling their purpose of being. May this never be our portion in Jesus name. I enjoin us to search our minds, carefully answer the questions listed in today’s devotional by our father in the Lord and make amends. May we never be damned in Jesus name. We pray that the Lord will renew Pastor E.A Adeboye’s strength in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to serve You profitably to the end in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 

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