Memorise: The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. Job 15:20
Read: Genesis 3:8-19
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Bible in one year: Judges 19, Jeremiah 51:59-52:11

1. Sin can bring unimaginable consequences upon the sinner.
2. Some years ago, I visited the maximum security prison at Kirikiri, Lagos, where I met a man who had been condemned to death. For 27 years, he had waited for the day the executioner would come for his head. While we discussed, I trembled at the repercussion of sin. He said to me, “Even if I am released now, where do I start from, having wasted 27 years of my life?” Do you expect such a man to be joyful during all that period of waiting? No way! He must have been sad for 27 years! Psalm 16:4 says, “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.”
3. According to this scripture, sin and sorrow go hand in hand. If you are living in sin, you cannot be separated from sorrow.
4. If you enjoy sinning, you will be compelled to enjoy sorrow as well.
5. If you are always sorrowful, examine your ways: it is possible your life of sorrow is the product of a sinful life. Similarly, sin is linked with pain, struggle and tears. Job 15:20 says “The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.”
6. This scripture simply means that if you sin and continue in it, get ready to suffer for a long time, possibly throughout life.
7. These repercussions of sin did not just start today; they have been there from the beginning. In today’s Bible reading, after Adam and Eve sinned, the serpent was cursed above all other creatures and lost its legs. For the woman, the process of conception and childbirth became an issue of life and death, while the ground was cursed for man’s sake. Since then, it has been a struggle for man to enter into his harvest. Before you take out your harvest from the fields, you have to sweat, suffer, weed out what you did not sow, and so on.
8. Are you going through a lot of struggle, pain and tears over your efforts to move to the next level?
9. First crosscheck your life to find out if these are caused by sin.
10. If there is sin, confess it to God, ask for forgiveness and beat a fast retreat.
11. Follow after the path of righteousness, because righteousness will ensure sorrow stays far from your life.

If a child in the Sunday school class is been ask what the consequence of sin is, he or she will answer without delay that it is death! This indicates that every believer is aware that sin brings or results into death. Though death is the end result of sin, sorrow, pain, struggle and tears preceeds it in the life of anyone who dwells in it. The accuser and root of all sin is working tirelessly day and night with his cohorts to see that no one despite the knowledge of the consequences of sin goes free. His mission to steal, kill and destroy remains as all effort is channelled to seeing it fulfilled. I pray his will shall never be accomplished in our lives in Jesus name. Let’s live consciously everyday of God’s desire for us to be obedient and make delibrate effort to be obedient shaming the devil and destroying his plan by doing so. God help us as we do so in Jesus name. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, in any way I have brought sorrow into my life because of sin, have mercy on me and deliver me 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

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Psalm 77:14
Read: Psalm 77:11-15
11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
Bible in one year: Judges 17-18, Jeremiah 51:45-58

1. God is a wonder and He does great wonders. I pray that He will perform wonders in your own life, so that you can testify that you have experienced His wonder-working power, in Jesus’ Name.
2. Beyond this however, do you know that God can turn you into a wonder? For instance, look at the mad man of Gadara. He was so mad that all hope was lost concerning his recovery; but when Jesus touched his life, he was seen not only in his right senses, but also decently dressed and even evangelising the goodness of the Lord. Many people who saw him were amazed and had their doubts as to whether he was the same person who once terrorised the community (Mark 5:20). He became a wonder!
3. Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, also became a wonder and a tourist attraction after he was raised from the dead. John 12:9 says this about him: “Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.”
4. Several years ago, during a particular Holy Ghost Service we held at the National Stadium, Surulere (Lagos), there was a man with a huge growth attached to his neck sitting beside a particular woman. The growth was so huge that it overshadowed his face. While the programme was on, the woman sitting beside him kept peeping at the protruding growth. During the sermon, the word of God came that there was someone in attendance with a huge growth around the neck and that it had gone. On hearing this, the woman sitting next to this man immediately turned to look at him and it was as if the growth suddenly grew wings, flew away and disappeared. This woman was so amazed at this wonder that after the programme was over, she had already trekked from the stadium to Palmgrove, a distance of about 5km, before she remembered that she had left her car parked in the parking lot inside the stadium.
5. When God turns you into a wonder, even sceptics will find it difficult to doubt your testimony because it will be so profound.
6. Also, your life will become a perpetual signpost for God’s Name to be glorified.
7. Are you in dire need of a miracle? Beyond that need, ask God to make you a living wonder for the glory of His Name.
8. This season, as the Lord turns you into a wonder, the same mouths that have mocked you and challenged your God will become the instruments for spreading your testimony and for reverencing your God!
9. Worship the Almighty God who alone can make you a wonder.

Our God is the way maker and extra ordinary strategist. He is still changing lives, making miracle spring forth from a mess and turning shame to glory. He is God above all and nothing is impossible with Him. May His name be praised forever. Amen. We bless God for the author of this devotional Pastor E.A Adeboye and we pray his ministry shall get glorious by each day in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, today, make me a positive wonder to my generation, so that they can come to know You.
HYMN
The great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
Refrain:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
Go on your way in peace to heav’n,
And wear a crown with Jesus.
All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The charming name of Jesus.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. Psalm 26:2
Read: Numbers 22:22-31
22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Bible in one year: Judges 15-16, Jeremiah 51:27-44

1. “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.”
2. The above scripture is one of those very popular passages in the Psalms. When a baby Christian hears it, he will say “Amen!” Some adult Christians have even turned it into a song. A mature believer in Christ, I mean a real bone-cracker, will however react differently. When he or she hears this passage being quoted, the first thing he or she will do is to carry out a brief self-examination and introspectively ask: “I hope I am not one of these enemies?” In other words, he is not in a hurry to say amen.
3. In 2nd Samuel 12:1-7, after Prophet Nathan told King David the story of an oppressive act committed in his kingdom, the king rose up in fury and decreed, “That fellow must die.” Then the prophet replied, “You are the man, O king.” Be very careful how you judge others because Matthew 7:2 says, “For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
4. If only some people were merciful while judging others, they too would have been shown mercy when they were going through their own judgement.
5. Beloved, before you cry to God to arise and let His enemies be scattered, first find out if you are not that enemy. Have you even tried to find out whether God is the one fighting you?
6. In today’s Bible reading, God had told Prophet Balaam not to go and curse His people. Nevertheless, when Balak invited him to curse the children of Israel and promised him a lot of money, he disobeyed God. God therefore sent an angel to block his way. The donkey he rode on saw the angel and stopped, but because his own eyes were blinded by covetousness, he could not see the angel.
7. What will you do if you find yourself in this scenario? You perceive something is blocking your way but you do not know what exactly it is, and you say, “You demon standing between me and my destiny, move!” You get a response saying, “I am not a demon but an angel.” You then insist and say, “No problem, whatever you are, move out of my way!” He then asks, “In whose name?” You say “In the Name of Jesus Christ”, and the response is, “Oh, He is the One who asked me to block your way!” What would you do?
8. Today, many people are busy fighting non-existent forces of darkness that they believe are blocking their way.
9. Go back to God and find out who is really blocking your way in order to pray correctly.

Like our father in the Lord rightly mentioned above many people are busy fighting non-existent demons of darkness that they believe is blocking their ways to fulfillment of their destiny. Thank God for this awakening message, let’s go back to God and inquire the exact cause of those obstacles and pray the right prayer. In Romans 8:31b “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Many have even forgotten this Bible reference ends with a question mark, they quickly say “nobody” but the truth is, you can be against yourself. Hence, let’s take time to find the root of every challenge in our life. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for daily bringing the knowledge of God’s Word to us through this devotional. May he wax stronger in Jesus name.

Key Point
Many children of God are doing God’s work their own way and refusing to do it God’s way. God is therefore grinding them to a halt!
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.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: Psalm 63:5
Read: Proverbs 19:23-24
23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Bible in one year: Judges 12-14, Jeremiah 51:12-26

1. One of our benefits as the sheep of the Great Shepherd is the assurance of provision.
2. If you are a sheep of Jesus, you will definitely be fed and hunger will be alien to you. Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
3. If God has promised that we shall be fed, why then are some of us hungry and even starving today?
4. Several factors are responsible for this, first of which is that some people erroneously mistaken poverty for righteousness and wealth for sinfulness.
5. Some people have chosen to be poor so as to make Heaven. This is a fallacy! Do you know that so many poor people on earth, after suffering here, end up in Hell, whereas many believing Christians who were rich on earth continue to swim in eternal riches in Heaven? The choice is yours.
6. Do not choose what will destroy but what will deliver you. Abraham was rich on earth, died and continued to live in God’s abundance in Heaven.
7. What is your choice? If you are still holding onto such negative beliefs or stereotypes, then you need to have a change of mindset.
8. Also, some believers are hungry today because they have violated God’s financial principles.
9. For instance, if you are not faithfully paying your tithe, you are inviting devourers to drive you into hunger. If you fail to pay your first fruits, you will be giving the enemy legal grounds to contest your job, open doors or breakthrough, and this could lead to hunger. Similarly, when you eat up the seeds you are meant to sow after every provision that comes to you, you will lose the harvest that could keep you from starving tomorrow.
10. Some believers are in hunger as a result of reckless spending. They want to spend everything they have in one day. If you eat up a month’s provision in one week, you may have to spend the remaining weeks in hunger.
11. In addition, some believers do not really trust God but in the quality of their certificate, wisdom, knowledge and skill. This attitude has resulted in God stepping aside from their affairs in order to make them realise how little they can achieve by their limited strength. Hence, such people have ended up in disappointment and lack.
12. Beyond this, others are in hunger because of laziness, as they have refused to take up opportunities to gather wealth.
13. Lack and poverty may also be as a result of satanic manipulation and control.
14. Are you hungry? Is it caused by your actions or inactions?
15. Arise and put things in order today and turn away from hunger and lack! 

Ignorance can be of great disadvantage to the ignorant one. It is God’s desire to see His children flourish and prosper in all things. Choosing poverty or lack is a total deprivation of self of our inheritance in Christ Jesus. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9. Why then choose poverty when we have been freely blessed with riches? I pray we will embrace God’s love for us and not satan’s deceit in Jesus name. We pray that God will always empower Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
The Child of a billionaire cannot be starving for what to eat. You are the child of the richest person in the universe. You should not lack any good thing.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: Proverbs 24:3
Read: Acts 5:12-16
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Bible in one year: Judges 10-11, Jeremiah 50:44-51:11

1. Soul winning can trigger the miraculous, as seen in the lives of the apostles.
2. If you really want signs and wonders to attend to your life and ministry, you must be prepared to declare Jesus Christ at every opportunity you have, and if you lack such opportunities, you must be prepared to create them.
3. In our Bible reading for today, it is recorded that through the hands of the apostles, several miracles were performed. This was a generic statement affecting all the apostles because they were all preaching the word of God (Acts 5:12). After this generic statement was made, Peter was singled out. Concerning him, it was said that he did not need to lay hands before miracles took place; rather, even his shadow was conducting deliverance and healing services while he was busy moving from place to place.
4. Why was this so? How did Peter excel in signs and wonders? It was because he took advantage of every opportunity he had to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He could face any crowd and declare his faith in Jesus Christ to them (See Acts 2&Acts 3). God saw this attitude and was quite impressed, and He said, “Since you are unstoppable in declaring My word, signs and wonders will never cease in your life.”
5. Can you take the action of witnessing to such limits as you have never been before?
6. In various life endeavours, several Christians plan, set goals and targets, and come up with strategies to accomplish them, but when it comes to soul-winning they don’t do any of these.
7. As a marketer, you devise plans on how to reach out to a larger segment of the market and on how to get a larger market share for your products. That is how it should be for soul-winning too. What is your plan or strategy for winning more souls to Christ this year?
8. For many individuals, couples or families, there is no plan for evangelism. No specific number of converts is being targeted daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. Due to this lack of planning, some people cannot boast of five converts in 12 months. What a shame!
9. Several opportunities that God gave us to win souls have been lost to lack of planning. If you set a monthly target to winning 20 souls, you will take every opportunity that comes your way more seriously and exploit them in order to achieve your target.
10. Success in evangelism can never be attained without a plan.
11. Repent today and become more proactive in evangelism. Come up with a plan for the year and prayerfully pursue it. It shall be achieved in Jesus’ Name.

Almost all the readers of this devotional is guilty of not being active in soul winning. There is no strategic plan as regards bringing the lost back to Christ. I pray the Holy spirit will compel us to yield to the call to join the chariot of soul winning. And as we do God will help us to achieve all set targets in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye with greater wisdom and strength in Jesus name

Action Point
Draw up a one-year evangelism plan stating the number of souls to be won daily, weekly and monthly, and prayerfully execute it.
HYMN
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:14
Read: James 1:12-16
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Bible in one year: Judges 9, Jeremiah 50:31-43

1. Many people have been taken captive in different ways. Some have become captives of war, while some others have fallen prey to traps set by the enemy. May God deliver us from satanic booby traps!
2. However, you really need to exercise caution if you do not want to fall prey to the devil. Watch those things you take pleasure in because sooner rather than later, they can become the very things the tempter will use in enticing you!
3. Today’s memory verse tells us that temptations start with us: they emanate from what we secretly or openly long for.
4. Some people nurse some unvoiced thoughts and ideas and do not really care whether those thoughts agree with the standard of Philippians 4:8. This standard states: “…Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever thing are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
5. For nonchalant Christians, the devil soon sets them up to reveal exactly what is in their heart, and thereafter they are confronted with temptations. An example here is Esau, who loved good food. He loved eating so much that the devil decided to use food to secure the loss of his destiny, and he fell for it.
6. If you secretly admire the opposite sex, the devil will find out about it someday, and before long, you will be battling with sexual lust or some other form of immorality.
7. Men are drawn by their own lustful thoughts. Lust pulls the one lusting into further sin. Do everything possible to avoid lust because before you know it, it will bring you into the pit of sin.
8. If you lust after money, before long, you will find yourself in a situation where you will be tempted to sell out your salvation or betray someone who is close to you in exchange for money, like Judas Iscariot and Joseph’s brothers did.
9. What do you secretly lust after? If you ignore it, you will later regret it by the time the tempter is through with you.
10. This is the time to prayerfully check and cut off any seemingly harmless pull from lust. Where there is a pull, it continues until there is a build-up.
11. When the build-up has become formidable, it will become too difficult to resist its compelling force to sin. Therefore, do everything possible to love only those things that are good, and feed your mind on the word of God.
12. Also, avoid the tendency for a build up by resisting the subtle lure of lust. Prayerfully keep your thoughts in check and closely monitor what you allow into your heart. 

“Abstain from every form of evil.” ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5:22‬. A very deep insight to this bible verse will give you understanding of what the almighty God expects from you when it comes to temptations or sin. To abstain is to do away with or avoid, therefore anything that appears to be evil must not be tolerated. Lust is dangerous for you as a believer because if one fails to be conscious of it, destruction and death is inevitable. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” May the Lord help every reader of this Devotional. And may He strengthen our Father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point
To prevent sexual sins, covetousness, murders and the likes, stop it at the thought stage. Don’t allow it move from thought to lust.
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.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1st Peter 5:9
Read: Matthew 8:14-15
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Bible in one year: Judges 7-8, Jeremiah 50:17-30

1. When Jesus came to Peter’s house in today’s Bible reading, He met his mother-in-law down with a fever. He touched her and she was healed instantly, and she then began to attend to their needs. This clearly tells us that Jesus does not tolerate sickness in our bodies. However, the question is, do you tolerate sickness?
2. Some people are tolerant of things they should not accept. Tolerating sickness is telling that it is welcome in your body.
3. Some people tolerate certain sicknesses that are traced to certain natural conditions.
4. For instance, when a woman is pregnant, people expect her to go through morning sickness. While this is mild for some people, it can be very tough for some others. Nevertheless, if you know your rights as a spiritual Hebrew woman and stand in faith against any form of ill health, you will receive strength to go through pregnancy in good health and not in sickness. To do so, you must be strong in faith and tell sickness that it is not welcome because you have no room or space for it. 1st Timothy 2:15 says, “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
5. In other words, if you are truly a godly woman, you should not be taken down by the dangers of childbirth that affect ungodly women. Stand in faith and live holy, and your conception and delivery will be most pleasant!
6. In the same vein, some sicknesses are attributed to old age. An elderly man who was still quite active suddenly got up one day and realised he had difficultly walking. He tried some self-medication to no avail, and so he was taken to the hospital. The doctor examined him and told him his sickness was as a result of old age. He was advised to just manage it with certain medicines.
7. There are some people whose eyesight fail them due to old age, even as early as 60 years old.
8. For a child of God, you can stand in faith, resist such sicknesses and enjoy good health all through your life.
9. At 120 years old, when it was time to go to be with the Lord, Moses still retained the strength of his youth (Deuteronomy 34:7). Caleb also retained his strength at 85 years old (Joshua 14:10-11).
10. If you stand in faith, what affects others will not be able to affect you. If you refuse to resist these sicknesses, you will become a victim just like everyone else. The choice is yours.

It’s an awakening message to the believers who due to ignorance have been deprived of their rights by the devil. There are certain things that must not be tolerated in the life of every believer. Sickness is not permitted because the Bible says our body is a temple of Christ therefore Sickness of any kind should not be seen in our lives. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6:20‬ . This bible reference also confirm the fact that Christ bore our sickness on the cross just for us to always glorify Him with our body. May the Lord give us better understanding in Jesus name. May God continually increase and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
If Jesus has carried your pains and sorrows according to Isaiah 53:4, why are you still accepting to carry them?
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.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12
Read: John 5:2-14
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Bible in one year: Judges 5-6, Jeremiah 50:4-16

1. As harmless as sin may appear sometimes, we should not be deceived, knowing how destructive it can be. Every act of sin comes with a sentence of death (Romans 6:23).
2. If you do not want to die through separation from God, sin is something you must flee from. 2nd Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
3. If you are living in sin, God cannot call you His. If you want Him to identify with you, then you must deliberately separate yourself from sin.
4. If you are truly born again, you cannot continue in sin (Romans 6:1-2).
5. Sin is not as trivial as people suggest; it is deadly! May God completely deliver you from the reins of sin!
6. Moreover, sin is a carrier of death (1st Corinthians 15:56). If you live in sin, death sets in.
7. The death that sin brings can affect every facet of your life. Take for instance the impotent man who had been sick for 38 years, who was kept by the sheep market pool. During his second encounter with Jesus, after he had been healed, the Lord told him something fundamental in John 5:14: “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”
8. From this statement, we know that the sin(s) this man committed brought on the paralysing sickness he suffered for 38 years. He contacted this illness as a result of sin and had to relocate from his house, family and friends to live in a colony of the sick. He tried 38 times to receive his healing, without success. Sin, through this sickness, devoured his life. Assuming he was meant to live for 70 years, what would be left after losing 38 years to sickness? Sin separated him from what God had originally planned for his life and made him completely useless to himself and everyone else. He was stagnant and in bondage for 38 years! As a result of his sin, he was forsaken by his friends and loved ones. Sin is so terrible!
9. Do you know that many believers are in a mess today, but instead of first looking inwards to discover if they caused it by their sins, they begin to look out for external culprits: an enemy, witch or wizard that may not even exist.
10. Are you in a terrible state? Examine yourself and find out if your sin is the cause; thereafter turn to God, repent and surrender your life to Jesus.

Sin detaches man from God’s original plan for him or her. It is deadly and the wages for sin is death. It is abnormal and unnatural for anyone to know something kills yet you go for it. This is where the need for God’s hand to hold us up comes to light. We must continuously seek God’s mercy so as to stay away from sin because the end result of it is death. I pray the grace to stay away from sin and remain in God’s will is bestowed upon us this day in Jesus name. God be praised for blessing us with Pastor E.A Adeboye. The Lord will strengthen him on every side in Jesus name.

Action Point
Examine every long-running issue in your life to determine if sin is the cause and take appreciate action on it.
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
 

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11
Read: Daniel 6:21-28
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Bible in one year: Judges 3-4, Jeremiah 49:28-50:3

1. Our God is not only a wonder, He also works wonders!
2. After the Lord performed wonders by parting the Red Sea, Moses and the children of Israel sang a new song to the Lord in Exodus 15:11 saying: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
3. Also, after God miraculously delivered Daniel from the lions’ den, King Darius passed a decree that in every domain of his kingdom, this awesome God must be feared and revered. In Daniel 6:27, he said, “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
4. The God that King Darius spoke of is still the same today. He is full of wonders. No wonder He is called Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6).
5. Are you in need of a miracle, sign or wonder? Call upon this great God and He will surely deliver you. He can still do great wonders in your life today.
6. You need to come to terms with the reality that God can perform wonders in your own life. In other words, you too can be a beneficiary of His wonders.
7. It is a known fact that a person can be rich and yet be stingy. Where I come from, when talking to a rich and arrogant man, it is common for people to say, ‘Yes, I know you are rich, but you are not the one feeding me.” In other words, “your wealth is of no benefit to me, so go and perish with your money.”
8. God can be a God of wonders who also does wonders, but if He has not done wonders in your own life, His ability may seem like fairy tales to you.
9. In Genesis 18:9-14, He met a 90 year-old woman and said: ”I know you are 90, and I know your monthly cycle stopped several years ago, but you are going to have a son.” The woman replied, ”I don’t believe you!” God said, ”It doesn’t matter whether you believe or not; I am the Wonder-Working God, and I will go ahead to do what I just promised” A year later, she had her baby. God’s wonder-working ability became real to her.
10. Beloved, you are the next candidate to benefit from this Wonderful God! This season, the God of wonders shall show up in your situation and turn things around! You shall experience the reality of His wonderful power.
11. Call on Him today, and He will answer you.

It is clearly analysed by our father in the Lord in today’s devotional that experiencing God’s wonders requires coming to terms with the reality that God can perform wonders in your own life. It is as simpole as that and it can otherwise be said to have faith in God. May God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and strengthen him on every side in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, as You did for Daniel, perform an outstanding miracle in my life that will compel nations of the world to amend their laws in honour of You.
HYMN
1. O Lord my God!
When I’m in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands hath made;
I see the stars,
I heard the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r throughout
The universe displayed
Chorus
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to thee;
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul!
My Saviour God to thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!
2. When through the woods
And forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the tress;
When I look down,
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook,
And feel the gentle breeze.
Chorus
3. And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing
Sent him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross,
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin.
Chorus
4. When Christ shall come,
With shout of acclamation,
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration,
And then proclaim
“My God, how great Thou art!”

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; Psalm 105:44
Read: 2nd King 7:1-11
1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.
Bible in one year: Judges 1-2, Jeremiah 49:14-27

1. A sound from Heaven is all you need to turn a very hopeless situation into a glorious one. We have an example of this in today’s Bible reading.
2. One lesson here is that whenever things deteriorate to their worst level; know that a turning point is around the corner. Don’t cry, just worship God and thank Him in the midst of the difficulty, asking Him to show you what to do to turn things around.
3. Also, from this story, we see that God can release one sound from Heaven and while His children hear something positive, their enemies would hear something else.
4. Things were so bad in Samaria because there was no more food, to the extent that some women began to eat their own children to survive. Have things gone so bad for you that to afford a meal you would have to sell some of your property? There is a user of this Devotional, because things have gone so bad, you have virtually sold all your properties in order to survive. The Lord is turning your situation around now. Within the next 90 days, all the things you have sold shall be replaced with better ones. When this comes to pass in your life, endeavour to testify of it before the congregation of God’s people.
5. It was in the midst of hopelessness that a sound came from heaven through Elisha, declaring that within 24 hours, abundance would replace lack. Literarily speaking, it meant that within 24 hours, there would be so much food that it would be almost free. Responding to that prophecy which they didn’t even hear, some four lepers decided to take their chances by going to the camp of the besieging army to see if they would pity them and give them some food. As they went, the noise from their feet was taken up to Heaven, amplified and released into the camp of the enemy. So what happened? While God’s people heard that abundance would swallow up their acute lack with 24 hours, the enemies heard the sound of a very mighty army coming to surround them and wipe them out completely. They fled immediately and left behind everything they had, which became available to God’s people almost free.
6. This season, all your enemies holding back your blessings shall hear a sound from Heaven and leave you and everything that is yours alone! I speak abundance into your life now in Jesus’ Name! If there is any siege that has surrounded your life for so long, hindering your progress, I command it to be lifted now in Jesus’ Name. Receive freedom to expand your coast from today in Jesus Mighty Name. It is well with you!

Our God can manifest as the almighty God in different dimensions. Taking a phase of His manifestation we can say He is a consuming fire to the enemies and He is love to His children. He gave light to the children of Israel and darkness to the Egyptians. Knowing God is not enough, we have to know our inheritance in Him that we may fully possess that which He has provided for us. New insight into God’s word is what we experience daily as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, as You speak peace to me, speak trouble and war to my enemies.
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.

Please follow and like us:

20