Memorise: There is no fear in love; but perfect love caseteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fearth is not made perfect in love. 1st John 4:18
Read: 1st John 4:17-18
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 23-24, Ezekiel 14:12-23

1. If you have God as your Refuge, you have a priceless treasure because this gives you access to help in times of trouble.
2. With God as your Refuge, irrespective of what is happening around you, you have no cause to panic. As unlikely as this may sound, it is possible to be under God’s cover and be unaffected by every satanic missile flying around both day and night (Psalm 91:5-6).
3. Due to negative influences from their environment, some people have grown up with a particular phobia for the last quarter of the year. Between January and August, they go about their normal business activities with boldness, but as the month of September approaches, fear envelopes their hearts. As they read or hear of various accidents happening here and there, their fear is heightened. Some people allow this condition to degenerate to the extent that fear redefines all their remaining activities for the year. They may have to cancel all their air travel for fear of air crash. Even their road trips would be seriously reduced for fear of road accidents. They try as much as possible to confine themselves to their houses and will therefore give all kinds of excuses for not accepting any assignment or invitation during that period. Such people are just being manipulated by fear!
4. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth our fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1st John 4:18
5. If you live in fear, you are in Satan’s bondage (Hebrews 2:15). Your love for God and fellow brethren cannot be perfect if you still create room for fear.
6. When you live in fear, you give the devil so much attention, thereby empowering him over your life and destiny.
7. Whatever or whoever you fear controls you. Luke 1:74 says we were saved to serve God without fear. So if you say you are born again but you still live in fear, you need to know who you are serving, because you should not live in fear of anything while serving God.
8. You cannot have the fear of God in your heart and the fear of the devil at the same time.
9. The moment you begin to fear the devil or his agents, you drift into bondage.
10. If you are sure of your salvation but still live in fear, check yourself; it is likely you are ignorant of who you are in Christ.
11. Also, as a child of God, when you engage in disobedience or harbour a secret sin in your heart, you lose your confidence and fear sets in. if this is your case, repent of your sin and fully turn to God!

Fear is not anywhere in the DNA of a believer. In our lineage as the redeemed, boldness is one of our inheritance. A believer has been made righteousness by grace through Christ Jesus. And proverbs 28:1 says “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Also 2 Timothy 1:7 says For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Therefore whoever is a believer should not operate in fear. There is need for reappraisal to live above fear if you fall in this category. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and we pray that his days be long for greater impact in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
If your heart is always filled with fear, invest time to study who you are in Christ from the book of Ephesians.
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: The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. Proverbs 14:20
Read: Proverbs 14:20-22
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 21:22, Ezekiel 13:20-14:11

1. Peace is desirable because it signifies everything that is calm, quite and in order.
2. On the other hand, storms are undesirable because they bring turbulence, trouble, fear and absence of rest.
3. While all storms are bad, a financial storm is one of the worst storms that can hit the foundation of an individual, family or community.
4. One reason why financial storms are more deadly is because they can trigger off other storms. For instance, Proverbs 14:20 says, “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.”
5. This means that because of the poverty of the poor, many of his neighbours prefer to avoid him. Some would even develop hatred for him just for that reason.
6. This describes the attitude of many unsaved people to their poor neighbours. 
7. It is most unfortunate that some believers also follow this evil trend. This has led to the formation of cliques and factions in places where there should be unity and togetherness. Psalm 10:2 says that only a wicked and proud fellow would subject the poor to such treatment. Some Church leaders cannot stand seeing those who are not well-to-do. As a result, they discriminate against them, using every excuse in the book. They appoint only those who are rich into positions, even when they know that the poor are more ideal for such positions. If you are involved in such discriminatory practices, remember Psalm 12:5 which says that when the poor cry out to God, He will arise on their behalf against their oppressors.
8. Are you hated by your neighbours because of the financial storms you are confronted with? Fear not! According to Psalm 69:33, the Lord will hear your cry today and bring you out of poverty and reproach.
9. Moreover, financial storms can make an individual contemplate suicide. In 1st King 17:12, due to the financial storms that the widow of Zarephath was going through with her son, she decided that they should just take their last meal and afterwards die.
10. Have you found yourself in a similar situation where you are contemplating or have even attempted suicide? Stop right there! Suicide can never solve your problems. It is worse than going from frying pan into fire. See your pastor, tell him your situation and see what he can do to help.
11. However, more importantly, call on the Lord to deliver you from the challenges you are confronted with. I rebuke every spirit of death suggesting suicide to you right now! I pray that hope be restored in your heart right now in Jesus’ Name.

Col 1:27 makes us understand that “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” Anyone who is in Christ should never be hopeless except you are not truly committed to Him. Suicide is devil’s plight against anyone goings through trial so as to deprive them of their miracle. When there is Christ in you, be sure of victory over every storm. We shall rejoice over every storm for the God of Peace will release peace into our lives in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point
If your financial storm is so bad that you feel seriously pressured to commit suicide, just know that your turnaround is truly around you. Don’t ever quit, and don’t kill yourself!
HYMN
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favour,
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy, still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.
3 We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
‘All, all is well.’
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.

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20

Memorise: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3
Read: Genesis 30:1-2
1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 19-20, Ezekiel 13:8-19

1. In Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord taught His disciples the right way to pray. Prayer is an outcry for assistance.
2. It summons your ally to join forces with you in your fight against your foes in order to be victorious.
3. Usually, when an individual encounters a problem too big to handle, he will call for the help of others.
4. In the midst of a famine, when Elijah went to ask for water and food from the widow of Zarephath, he was simply praying (1st King 17:8-16). Also, when this widow’s son died and she cried to the man of God to restore him back to life, that was a prayer (1st Kings 17:17-23). Furthermore, when Rachel asked Jacob to give her children, she was praying (Genesis 30:1). In 2nd Kings 6:25-29, we see a woman praying to the king for help in enforcing her agreement to feed on another woman’s son after her own son had been devoured.
5. From all these cases, it can be established that prayer can be made to individuals, kings, men of God and ultimately, to God Himself. People also pray to the devil and his agents, when they go to them for help.
6. There are some believers who go to their villages to cry to their unsaved parents for help over a nagging issue. Such parents are compelled to consult their oracles and apply charms in resolving these issues. When this occurs, that believer has been brought into covenant with the idols consulted, thereby giving the demonic spirits behind such idols the right to manipulate their lives. 
7. Be very careful who you run to for help!
8. When Rachel asked Jacob to give her children in Genesis 30:1, Jacob got angry. Rachel even threatened to commit suicide if she did not have children. Her husband’s response in Genesis 30:2b says it all: “Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?”
9. She was directing her right request to the wrong quarters. What she was asking was beyond his ability.
10. Many times, we pray to the wrong person or send our desires to those who cannot truly help us. The Bible in Psalm 60:11 says, “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.”
11. Are you channelling your request to men instead of God? Stop doing so today!
12. God is the only one with all the resources to meet all your needs; therefore, it is wise to direct your entire requests and cries to Him alone. As you do so, He will hear you.

Some believers see their spiritual father or mother as their Saviour. They so much believe once they get to these people mentioned above all will be sorted. They address them as such also. Our father Pastor E.A Adeboye has admonished everyone channelling their request to man instead of God to stop doing so today. God is the All sufficient one and He can do all things. It’s well with us even as we do so in Jesus name. Pastor E.A Adeboye is a great blessing to our generation and may he continue to be even as he is strengthen on every side in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, visit all the widows in my local church; meet their needs and that of their children. Also, keep them pure and ready for your coming.
HYMN
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
You wilt find a solace there.

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20

Memorise: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:25
Read: Job 19:23-27
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 17:18, Ezekiel 12:21-13:7

1. Prophecies are great tools that God uses to intervene in the situations His people’s lives.
2. Every prophecy has certain conditions attached to it to trigger its actualisation. Knowing this truth, one particular year, when the Almighty God said that there would be an overflow in that year, I immediately realised that there was some work to be done. When He then asked us to fast for 100 days, I was not surprised. Understanding such a task was not an easy one, but obedience to it produced a great harvest in joy, overflowing blessings and much more. This is your season of overflow of God’s blessings in Jesus’ Name!
3. In 1st King 17:8-16, when Elijah asked the widow of Zarephath to bring him some food, her response is worthy of note. 1st Kings 17:12a says, “And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse:” In other words, she took a good look at Elijah and said, “I know your God”.
4. Daniel 11:32 says if you know the Almighty God, you will be empowered to do exploits. ‘ Exploits’ here refers to activities that are way beyond the ordinary.
5. God is in the business of doing exploits. It takes God to turn the hideout of highway robbers into a beautiful godly city. It takes the God of exploits to construct the present auditorium at the Redemption Camp, even with its staggering cost. If you ever want to see exploits, you must know this God personally.
6. In addition, not only did this widow know Elijah’s God, she also declared Him to be alive.
7. One of the most profound statements in the Bible was made by Job. In Job 19:25, He said: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
8. At the time he said this, he was in a most distressing situation. Things were very bad indeed. He had lost all his wealth, property, children and even his health. However, in spite of his ordeal, he still proclaimed that God was alive.
9. Many people tend to believe that God is not alive or that He is not who He says He is, just because of the severe trials of faith they are facing.
10. Problems can never take God away. He doesn’t cease to exist just because He has not answered your prayers.
11. How much faith can you repose in God while going through difficult times? This is a true test of your character.

Our trials doesn’t change God. It does not reduce His supremacy as well. We should not think otherwise of God because of what we are going through. He is God all by Himself and that can never change. Having faith in God for a turn around is the best thing to do in the face of trouble. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for this devotional in Jesus name.

Action Point
Ask God to open more doors for us to reach the unreached countries with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
HYMN
1. My faith looks up to thee, 
thou Lamb of Calvary, 
Savior divine! 
Now hear me while I pray, 
take all my guilt away, 
O let me from this day 
be wholly thine! 
2. May thy rich grace impart 
strength to my fainting heart, 
my zeal inspire! 
As thou hast died for me, 
O may my love to thee 
pure, warm, and changeless be, 
a living fire! 
3. 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. 
4. 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; 
O bear me safe above, 
a ransomed soul! 
 

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20

Memorise: Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Haggai 1:9
Read: Haggai 1:5-11
5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 15-16, Ezekiel 12:7-20

1. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
2. The above scripture clearly tells us that God can be for us.
3. It is so reassuring to know that God can stand for you. Whenever He is for you, anyone against you is in trouble. However, do you know that just as God can be for you, He can also be against you? Yes, He can if you check through the Scriptures; you will see many instances where God stirred up the enemies of His children to fight against them (Judges 4:1-3, Judges 6:1-10). They remained defeated until they realised their evil, repented and ran back to God. Judges 13:1 says, “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistine forty years.”
4. Every time you turn away from God, violate His word or live to gratify your fleshly lusts, you turn Him against you.
5. Moreover, God can personally fight or frustrate the efforts of His children. In our Bible reading, because some people refused to complete the building of God’s house, He decided to frustrate their personal efforts.
6. It is frightening to see the extent God can go to in fighting His own children! In Haggai 1:6, it is written that his people worked like elephants but brought in the harvest of ants. They ate but were never satisfied, and their thirst could not be quenched no matter how much water they drank. No matter how many clothes they wore, they could not get warm. They worked and were paid, but kept losing their wages. Haggai 1:9 even goes further to say that if they managed to bring in any little gain, God would blow it away. God also prevented the heavens from releasing rain and the earth for releasing its increase. He went further to declare a famine on their land.
7. This was God fighting His children and not any devil Why the fight? It was because they abandoned God’s house and focused on building their own mansions with the resources God had given them.
8. If you abandon God’s assignment or project in pursuit of yours, you are or God’s hammer.
9. In any way you have erred, repent today and turn to what you abandoned, and the Lord will turn away from His anger.

Selfishness and disobedience are factors that will make anyone abandon the work or assignment of the Lord for his or her own personal pursuit. These two are not in the fruits of the spirit and so it is clear they are of the devil. When we do His will He abides with us and rewards us greatly. Matthew 19:28‭-‬30 “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” It is wise for anyone in this category to turn to the Lord for forgiveness and amend his or her way. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye for this great insight into the word of God in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, prosper all Your missionaries in mission fields across the globe. Back them up with signs and wonders. Help them to win souls and to disciple your end-time army.
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: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16
Read: Romans 6:13-20
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 14, Ezekiel 11:14-12:6

1. When you have an encounter with Jesus that results in you accepting Him as your personal Lord and Saviour, your life comes under a new management. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
2. Before encountering Jesus, your affairs were managed by Satan and also by your own self-will (Ephesians 2:2-3).
3. A choice to welcome Jesus into your heart means that you have chosen to do away with all your former masters and have embraced the Lordship of Jesus over your affairs.
4. My father used to say that whosoever you allow to be your master will take care of you with whatever he has. If Satan is your master, he will give you what he has: sickness, sorrow, fear and all kinds of problems. If Jesus is your master, He will take care of you with good health, joy, peace and all kinds of blessings. Who are you yielding to presently? Who is you master?
5. I was once invited to preach at the thanksgiving service of a particular king. While I was preparing for the service, his chiefs, dressed in the regalia of various secret societies, began to come in. An usher saw them and ran to me to ask if they should be allowed to enter the Church. I told him to seat them in the front row where Jesus would be able to reach them quickly. I immediately changed my sermon to talk about Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. At the end of the sermon, because I know who my Master is, I said this to them: “I challenge all of you, if you can use all your powers to deflate one of my tyres, I will surrender to your god, but if you cannot, you must surrender to my God.” I then told them the registration number of my car. By the time I gave the altar call, the second-in-command to the king, who was the leader of all the secret societies, was the first to come forward. When the other chiefs saw this, they followed suit. After the service, the king said we should go and check up on his second-in-command to find out if he understood what he just did. When we got to him, he said he knew what he had done by surrendering to Christ, adding, “When you see a small boy like this challenging all of us, who doesn’t know that he must have someone behind him? It is the One behind him that we surrendered to.” Thirty days later, this chief died. He had served the devil all his life and was heading for hell, but thirty days before his death, he changed to a new government and he is now in Heaven.
6. Who is managing your life? 

When a sinner surrenders to God it is a new phase entirely. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 This scripture says it all. All things not some things and it means the control of this new being changes also. We have to live in this consciousness and reject every lie of the devil for we are indeed a new creature with new management. It is new revelation and insight as we study the Open Heavens devotional daily. God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, wherever forces of darkness are challenging Your children in this nation, show up and paralyse them today.
HYMN
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, No turning back
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
No turning back, No turning back
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
No turning back, no turning back.
 
The world behind me, the Cross before me
The world behind me, the Cross before me
The world behind me, the Cross before me
No turning back, No turning back

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20

Memorise: One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 1st Timothy 3:4
Read: Acts 21:8-9
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 12:13, Ezekiel 10:20-11:13

1. Philip was a church planter, obedient, submissive to authority, had a servant spirit and was a man of good report. Beyond these, another valuable trait he had which made God use him mightily for signs and wonders is the fact that he was a man of total commitment to God.
2. Philip served God, but it did not end with him alone; he ensured that his family members followed the same godly path. Like Joshua who declared to the children of Israel that he and his household had decided to follow the Lord alone (Joshua 24:15), Philip decided in a determined way that everyone in his household would serve God.
3. In our Bible reading, we are told that he had four virgin daughters, who were all saved, filled with the Holy Spirit and operated in the gift of prophecy. This clearly shows us that he led his household in the way of the Lord. It also means that he was a good role model to his children. They saw how real the Christian faith was in the life of their father and they desired it.
4. Do your children follow the Christ you claim to follow? Are you a good role model for them? Does your life attract them to become true children of God? Joshua in Joshua 24:15 said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
5. Contrary to this stance, it is very unfortunate that today, some parents make excuses for the lukewarmness or even godlessness exhibited by their children and wards. Such parents may say, “Sir, you don’t understand; my children are now in the university.” Are they implying that children in the university should not obey their parents anymore, or that such children are incapable of doing God’s will? Some will even say, “We believe that when it comes to the issue of faith, it should be voluntary.” Is it right if your children voluntarily go to hell? No way! No child should be left to take such a foolish decision!
6. It is your duty to instruct your household after you in the way of the Lord.
7. My biological children, who are now adults, can testify to how I raised them up. None of them dared to come late for morning devotion. If you were late, you would remain standing or be spanked.
8. Joshua commanded his family to serve the Lord. No wonder he was able to command the sun to stand still and it did.
9. If you can instruct your household to genuinely serve God, you will be able to command what God created, and they will obey you.
10. Who is in charge of your home: you or your children? 

Parental guide is so demanding. The spiritual guide requires more energy than physical. This is because the devil stand to counter the godly seed parents try to sow in their children. It is a bit easier to monitor the physical activities of the children closely to a reasonable extent but their spiritual growth can only be discovered with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is why parent must be firm in the things of God and have a genuine relationship with Him so as to experience deep revelations in the place of true fellowship with God. May we never be damned or judged but receive reward for bringing our household in the way of the Lord in Jesus name. May God help us as we take up responsibility of raising our kids and household in the way of the Lord in Jesus name. We pray that the Lord will strengthen our Father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
If you raise your children well to follow and serve the Lord, He will reward you, but if you don’t, He will judge you.
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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Memorise: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 46:2
Read: Psalm 46:1-3
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 10-11, Ezekiel 10:3-19

1. When you have God as your Refuge, you stand to derive numerous benefits.
2. Having God as your Refuge places you in an advantageous position and makes you truly blessed.
3. One of the blessings that money cannot buy is having divine cover over your life that keeps you safe from the enemy.
4. If you consider your strengths and weaknesses, and take stock of the opportunities and threats you are exposed to continuously, you will realise that having God as a Refuge is a priceless benefit indeed.
5. With God as your cover, you are shielded from so many attacks of the enemy. Even the losses that are programmed to come your way are terminated by God before they get to you. If you are not yet enjoying the strength of God’s cover, you are experiencing a big minus in your life.
6. Another benefit of having God as your Refuge is that His strength will be made available to help you in the time of trouble. Speaking about God’s strength, 1st Corinthians 1:25b gives this insight: “….and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
7. In several scriptures, God promises to help us in the time of need. For instance, Psalm 50:15 says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
8. If God is not your Refuge and you call on Him when you need help, He may not respond to you. On the other hand, He easily responds to those under His cover. Are you under God’s cover? Is He your Refuge?
9. Moreover, when God is your Refuge, no matter what happens, there is no cause for alarm. Just think about this for a minute: Psalm 46:2-3 says that as long as you are under God’s cover, when there is an earthquake and uproar in the seas, or even if the mountains are blown off their locations, you will still be safe where you are. Praise God!
10. It is an anomaly for you to be under God’s protective cover and still be afraid of the storms of life.
11. Beloved, do not be scared of the storms confronting you! Don’t be afraid of the earthquake! Don’t even shake when the unmoveable are moved from their secured places. Why? As long as God is your Refuge, you cannot be moved.
12. Whatever cannot move God cannot move you.
13. If out of fear, you have been displaced from under God’s cover, in the Name of Jesus Christ, as you repent of your lack of faith, the Lord will return you to the place of His Refuge!
14. With God as your Refuge, there is no shaking for you!

No shaking is a pure declaration of confidence. A clear display of assurance that regardless of the situation or circumstance that comes our way God is ever present to help. Doubt is an act of ignorance for a believer. We should be 100% at rest that with you in God and God in you every challenge is a walk over. We should daily live in the consciousness that whatever cannot move God cannot move us. With God as our refuge, no shaking indeed! God be praised forever more for a vessel like Pastor E.A Adeboye. May he wax stronger in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, because You are my Refuge, let everything that is designed to shake me fail.
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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Memorise: And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:8
Read: Acts 3:1-9
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 7-9, Ezekiel 9:1-10:2

1. “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” Mark 10:52
2. From the above scripture, the way Bartimaeus responded after the Burden Bearer lifted the burden of blindness off his life is a lesson to us all. After the Burden Bearer has answered your call and lifted off your burden, certain follow-up steps are expected of you.
3. Some people are receiving their miracle thank God for a minute and then bid Him farewell. This should not be so! Immediately after Bartimaeus received his sight, he became a follower of Jesus Christ.
4. Know for sure that the devil will definitely contest every victory you secure over him. For failing to take the necessary follow-up steps required for you after each victory, the devil can reintroduce an entirely new burden into your life (Matthew 12:43-45). Post-victory follow-up action is as important as pre-victory perseverance.
5. After a burden is lifted off your shoulders, what should you do? You should praise God. For taking your burden away, praising God is the least you can do.
6. Praise should flow naturally out of you as it did from the lame man in today’s Bible reading. Immediately after his burden of stagnation was lifted, he got up, walking, leaping and praising God. For 40 years, he was placed in front of the temple gate, but he could not go in; but after he gained the ability to walk, he entered the temple, compelled a praise service to be held on his behalf, and on that day, many people learnt how to praise God through him. For 40 years, this man had observed how those parishioners came to the temple and would barely move their legs and bodies while praising God. He would have said to himself several times, “Oh God! I wish I had legs, I would have shown these people how to dance for you.” Then that day, God granted his desire and strengthened his two legs, and boy, he really did dance! He single-handedly changed a regular service into a praise service.
7. You who have always had the use of your two legs, when did you ever praise God by leaping? When you truly praise God, your legs cannot be motionless.
8. When some people praise God, only their lips are moving; the rest of their bodies, especially their legs, go on vacation.
9. How do you plan to praise God when He finally lifts that nagging burden off your neck?
10. From now on, start praising Him that way, and you will have your miracle speedily.

Glory to the almighty God for another insight to His Word. The topic might sounds nonsensical to some people who couldn’t reason with God for better understanding but sincerely, we must engage in praising and worshiping our maker without any restriction. If we understand the victories that we have when we dance and leap to appreciate God for His goodness, we won’t joke with praising God. Some are unaware that devil is interested in such a depressed style of praising God and uses such action to accuse you from receiving certain blessing from God. May the Lord help us to worship Him in spirit always without limitation. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for blessing us with this devotional in Jesus name.

Key Point
Those who understand the efficacy of praise are never shy to praise God anyhow, anywhere and anytime.
HYMN
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—*money cannot buy [*wealth can never buy]
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

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Memorise: He that convereth his sins shall not proper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13
Read: 2nd Corinthians 7:9-11
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 5-6, Ezekiel 8:7-18

1. God’s offer of salvation is for all those who come to Him.
2. To access this salvation however, there are certain criteria you must meet. For instance, you cannot experience salvation without genuine repentance.
3. Unfortunately, there are people who think that they can be saved even without repenting of their sins.
4. Some people believe that responding to an altar call for salvation is enough. No, it is not!
5. Can you believe that when some people come out to answer an altar call, instead of repenting of their sinful lifestyle, they take pictures? Those who do so can only come out and go back the same way they came. This will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name! Heaven’s demands for obtaining salvation are clearly stated in Proverbs 28:13: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
6. If you do not satisfy Heaven’s demand of confessing your sins to God and forsaking your sinful lifestyle, you will never be saved.
7. If you claim to be born again, how did you get saved? Did you confess your sins to God out of a sorrowful heart and resolve not to return to your sinful lifestyle? If your salvation lacks these key foundational pillars, you will need to revisit the salvation experience.
8. In Luke 13:2-5, Jesus plainly taught His hearers that except they repented, they would perish like those who went before them. God does not want anyone to perish, but He wants us all to repent (2nd Peter 3:9). God wants you to change your ways and to stop doing the wicked things you do. It is then you will obtain mercy from Him.
9. Today, the term “born again” has been so abused. Many people say they are born again but they do not even know what it means. If you are truly born again, you will receive genuine salvation that will completely turn your life around (2nd Corinthians 5:17).
10. When you come out to receive Jesus, you come out because you are truly sorry for your sins; you come out with a determination to change your ways.
11. You need to come to the altar of God crying to Him for help, not only to forgive you your sins but to also change you inside out. When you do this, you will obtain salvation. 2nd Corinthians 7:10 says it is godly sorrow that brings about the repentance that yield salvation. Are you really born again? If your salvation is not genuine, go back to the cross of Calvary today!

When a sinner genuinely repent of his or her sinful way, such sinner is doing no one favour but himself or herself. It is therefore unreasonable for such person to step out for repentance and not do it genuinely. Peradventure anyone falls in this category, it is wise for such person to go to Jesus’ feet truly and genuinely for a change as fast as possible. May devil’s plight never stand in our lives in Jesus name. We are grateful to God for blessing us with Pastor E.A Adeboye who daily through the Holy Spirit enlighten in the things of God. May he increase in wisdom in Jesus name.

Key Point
Fake salvation can never produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
HYMN
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, No turning back
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
No turning back, No turning back
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till i see Jesus
No turning back, no turning back.
 
The world behind me, the Cross before me
The world behind me, the Cross before me
The world behind me, the Cross before me
No turning back, No turning back

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