Memorise: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17
Read: Ezekiel 33:14-16
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Bible in one year: Number 18-19, Jeremiah 20:7-18

1. Expectedly, you may be wondering what God is not interested in. God is not interested in the death of a sinner (2nd Peter 3:9).
2. Many sinners don’t even know that God has no delight in condemning them.
3. It is therefore necessary that those who know this truth should make it known to them. “Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.”
Ezekiel 33:14-15
4. It is clear from the above Scripture that God is not interested in the death of any sinner, but desires that the sinner repents and turns away from his or her wicked ways.
5. It is amazing that God Almighty promised that none of the sins committed by a converted sinner will be remembered any more.
6. God is always wanting to restore fellowship with His human creation back to what it was in the beginning, if only they would appreciate His love for them.
7 Jesus Christ in John 15:13 said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
8. If indeed we are the friends of Jesus, we then must do whatever He commands us to do (John 15:14).
9. Are you a friend of Jesus or willing to be one? If you are willing to be a friend of Jesus, you must accept Him today, because tomorrow may be too late. The Bible says: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2nd Corinthians 6:2
10. For believers who would always pray that sinners should “fall down and die”, I will like to admonish you to stop wasting your time, because if the fellow you are praying against is candidate for salvation in the future, your prayers may be an exercise in futility.
11. This is why the Lord God said vengeance is His (Romans 12:19).
12. May God fill our hearts with the compassion of Christ, so that we can be more concerned about the salvation of sinners rather than their death.

SIN (Simple Instruction Neglected) as defined by bible scholars is deadly and can destroy. As the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. Someone dwelling in sin might not be aware of it and sin it’s a virus that can spread and can be contacted by an ignorant fellow, there is need for believers to step in to make it known to the world the consequences of sin. The Bible says “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs‬ ‭14:34‬. The meaning of that is sin can destroy both the doer and those around the doer. However, the good news is that God is willing that everyman should come to repentance from sin regardless of the gravity of sin, He is calling for repentance. Imagine this promise of God in the book of Isaiah “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:18
Prayer Point
Father, fill my heart with the compassion of Jesus, so that I would care for sinners even as You do. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May his strength be renewed in Jesus name.

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: And he said unto them, Go ye into all  the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
Read: Ezekiel 33:1-6
1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Bible in one year: Numbers 16-17, Jeremiah 19:10-20:6

1. We are often quick to judge Biblical characters when they do not measure up to God’s expectation in one area or the other.
2. We should however not allow our judgemental opinions to becloud our minds from the salient lessons God is trying to pass across to us through the failings of these characters.
3. To drive home this point, the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
4. Among such characters are father Abraham and Isaac, who both misrepresented their wife as their sister. We also have prophets like Elijah, who opted to die in the face of adversity, and Jonah, the prophet who chose to run away from God’s assignment.
5. In the New Testament, we have apostles like Thomas, who said he would not believe in Christ’s resurrection unless he saw and touched the palms of His hands.
6. The shortcomings of these characters exposes their humility to us, and it also serves as a challenge to us that if characters with such shortcomings can go on to do great things for God, so can we in spite of our inadequacies.
7. Let’s take a closer look at Prophet Jonah, and compare his attitude to that of believers in the Church today.
8. In Jonah 1, we read of how the word of the Lord came to him, instructing him to go and warn the people of Nineveh against the impending doom hanging over their heads because of their wickedness. Instead of carrying out God’s assignment, Jonah chose to flee to Tarshish, because he wanted the people of Nineveh to receive God’s judgement. He knew if these people heard the warning and repented, God would not punish them as He had earlier planned.
9. However, Jonah wanted them to receive God’s punishment because of all they had done to the children of Israel.
10. In like manner, our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to go and preach the gospel of salvation to sinners.
11. Following the principles set out in our Bible reading, if we do not obey the Lord’s commandment, God forbid that their blood be required of us.
12. We must beware of Jonah’s mistake so that none of us becomes another Jonah in the Church. Jonah landed in the belly of a fish before he understood the foolishness of trying to run away from God.
13. Are you being called into the ministry of soul-winning?
14. Stop running from your responsibility!
15. Let us take the assignment of soul-winning seriously, and we will not miss our reward. Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Some Christians delight in seeing other people go astray despite the fact that they are sent to reach out to these sinners. Some other shy away from the responsibility of being their brother’s keeper and watch them backslide without making any effort to help them retrace their steps back to Christ. This is a call for repentance to anyone in Jonah’s coat. There is a need for us to learn what God is pointing out to us at every point in time when we study. We have been commissioned to bring the lost to Christ and this we must do diligently. He is able to help us stay in His way and do His will if we will let Him help us. I pray we won’t miss it in life in Jesus name. I pray God will release grace for greater impact upon Pastor E.A Adeboye and bless him immensely in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, help me to win souls for You on a daily basis.
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.

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20

Memorise: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit the taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2
Read: Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Bible in one year: Number 14-15, Jeremiah 18:19-19:9

1. Fruit-bearing is a necessity for every child of God. When the Scripture in Deuteronomy 7:14 says none shall be barren, this promise fundamentally extends to soul-winning and all other activities that populate the Kingdom of God.
2. Our Heavenly Father is delighted when we in partnership with the Holy Spirit turn the hearts of men away from their wicked ways to the way of righteousness. For this reason, He reserved a special promise for such people in Daniel 12:3: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
3. The obligation to bear fruit becomes more critical when we consider what our Lord Jesus Christ said in today’s memory verse. He said He would take away every branch in Him that does not bear fruit. Nothing can be more serious than that. I pray that you will never be alienated from the Lord Jesus Christ in Jesus’ Name.
4. Moreover, today’s Bible reading amplifies the fruit-bearing responsibilities of the children of God. The parable it references was equally given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. The “certain man” in the parable is no other person than God, the Father. The vinedresser is no other person than Jesus Christ, the compassionate Advocate who makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He is the one pleading on behalf of fruitless trees in God’s vineyard, which is the world.
6. The danger of an endless wait for a tree in God’s vineyard to bear fruit is made clear in Luke 13:8-9, which says: “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
7. Are you bearing fruits? Another pertinent question is, what type of fruits are you bearing?
8. For a sinner, he or she must bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8).
9. For believers, we must win souls into the Kingdom, thus fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
10. More importantly for believers, we must also bear the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Believer seems to ignore the truth that being saved by grace calls for an assignment for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Fruit bearing is an important assignment that must be carried out by every believer. Just like our father in the Lord stated “winning of souls” and to proof this truth, Jesus in John 15:16 says “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John‬ ‭15:16.‬ ‭Brethren it’s high time we stepped out and begin to carry out this fruit bearing assignment as it’s the main reason why you are Ambassadors of Christ here on earth. May the almighty God help us. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in strength and wisdom in Jesus name.

Action Point
Draw a soul-winning plan for yourself and your family and sincerely follow it up in your neighbourhood. Also, pray that your converts will manifest the fruits of repentance and the fruit of the Spirit.
HYMN Action Point
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.

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20

Memorise: The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22
Read: Deuteronomy 8:10-18
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Bible in one year: Numbers 12-13, Jeremiah 18:1-18

1. Many children of God dread prosperity because of the challenges associated with it, particularly when it relates to material prosperity.
2. The reason for this attitude can be put down to either ignorance of the word of God concerning prosperity, or ignorance of the need for the children of God to prosper, if they would not live at the mercy of the ungodly. The Bible in Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
3. In our Bible reading today, we discover some truths about God’s purpose concerning the prosperity of His people. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
4. God gives power and opportunities to His children to get wealth for one singular reason: to prove Himself faithful to His word.
5. In other words, the issue of God’s children becoming wealthy is not about them but about God and His infallible word.
6. This is why those who pick and choose what they feel is suitable for them in the word of God are losers; God cannot be mocked.
7. Such people want the blessings of Abraham, but do not want to keep the covenant that Abraham kept with God. Jesus in John 8:39d said: “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
8. Beloved, I have good news for you: God is interested in the prosperity of His people (3rd John 2). Not only is God interested in your prosperity, He also gives you the power to make wealth and to prosper.
9. Furthermore, the prosperity from God is without negative repercussions and sorrow.
10. The Lord who prospers is the same Lord who protects. He will not give you a car that will become a death trap. He will not give you a child that will break your heart. If you believe this, you will see the glory of God.
11. Finally, in order to receive the prosperity that is devoid of sorrow, you must ensure that the prosperity you are seeking is from the Almighty God.
12. This suggests to us that there is a counterfeit prosperity which puts its beneficiaries in tight jackets of regret and sorrow.
13. The devil is the giver of counterfeits, but Jesus is the true source of eternal blessings.
14. You can never regret being prospered by His benevolence because He paid the price of your prosperity in full. 2nd Corinthians 8:9 says, “For ye know the grace our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, that ye though his poverty might be rich.”

“The devil is the giver of counterfeits, but Jesus is the true source of eternal blessings.” Let us expantiate on this. We have heard of rich people at different times who ended their lives miserably because the source of their wealth is the devil. Everything the devil deceitfully offer to man is already set in place by God for His children. But ignorance makes the victim of these deceits jump at the offer. When God bless you He adds no sorrow, condition or pain. As said by our father in the Lord, “You can never regret being prospered by His benevolence because He paid the price of your prosperity in full.” We shall be partakers of this blessing in Jesus name. God is so faithful that He blessed us with Pastor E.A Adeboye. May He be praised and strengthen him the more in Jesus name.

Key Point
Stop cutting corners. At God’s own time and in God’s own way, He will prosper you.
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!

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20

Memorise: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19
Read: Jeremiah 3:11-15
11 And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Bible in one year: Numbers 10-11, Jeremiah 17:14-27

1. Backsliding is such a terrible condition that any child of God who backslides must quickly seek for restoration.
2. The danger with backsliding is that a backslider may perish with his or her enemies like Samson did, or lose all he or she had gained in God like Judas Iscariot (Judges 16:30, Acts 1:16-20).
3. The good news is that God has provided a remedy for backsliding.
4. In today’s Bible reading, we see the loving God calling and inviting backsliding Israel back to Himself. This is a pointer to the fact that God wants to restore all backsliders.
5. “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every tree and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:” Jeremiah 3:13-14
6. The above verses of scripture contain the cure for backsliding.
7. Restoration for the backslider starts with an acknowledgment of sins and a contrite return to God. In other words, the cure to backsliding lies in genuine repentance.
8. Repentance is a complete turnaround from one’s sins with a determination never to return to those sins any more.
9. This was what Samson failed to do throughout his twenty years of being judge over Israel. To make matters worse, he always ascribed his victory and achievement to his strength. Hear what he said after one of his victories in Judges 15:16 “….With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.”
10. There is no record of him giving glory to God even once. When he should have prayed for mercy, he prayed a wrong prayer, asking God to strengthen him one more time, so that he could avenge his eyes! Due to the mercy of God, and because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, God still granted him his request, and he died with his enemies (Romans 11:29, Judges 16:28-30).
11. In Acts 3:19, we see some of the great benefits of repentance. These included forgiveness, the blotting out of sins and the experience of a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
12. Beloved, are you in a backslidden state? I encourage you to return to God through the Lord Jesus Christ today.
13. Read 1st John 2:1-2 for a better understanding of your heritage in Christ. As you do these, the joy of salvation and the victory over sin will be restored to you.

There is always grace for anyone who genuinely repent and go to God for a second chance. The only solution to backsliding is genuine repentance from all sins and iniquities. The wages of sin is death and destruction is always the end of every wickedness. The intention of God for you  is not for destruction. Imagine if David refused to repent  after  the adultery with Bathsheba according to 1 Samuel 11 and ask God for purification of heart. Do you find yourself committing a particular sin, why not ask God for change of heart just like David. Consider the promise of God for a contaminated heart in Ezekiel 11:19-20. Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them,[a] and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

Action Point
Pray for restoration if you are a backslider. If by His grace you are still standing, pray that you will not backslide, and also pray for all backsliders in the Body of Christ that you know.
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: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 2nd Timothy 4:10
Read: Judges 14:5-10
5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
Bible in one year: Numbers 8-9, Jeremiah 16:14-17:13

1. Yesterday, we established that backsliding is a gradual process that remains hidden in the heart and only begins to manifest after it had gotten out of hand.
2. In today’s memory verse, we discover one factor that brings backsliding: the love of the world.
3. 1st John 2:15-16 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world,”
4. The Bible passage reveals the character of the love of this present world, by which the heart of Demas, a companion of Paul, was stolen away from the straight and narrow way (2nd Timothy 4:10).
5. How far have you been drawn away from the narrow path which you have been treading on for so long?
6. Is the relativism philosophy of this present world doing great damage to the faith which you once had? How far have you been drawn away by the pleasurable things of life? My prayer for you is that the fire of the first love you had for Christ will be reignited, and that you will relate with God and the things of God like when you first believed in Him in Jesus’ Name.
7. Taking a closer look at the life of Samson as a case study of the backslider-in-heart, one lesson we can learn from today’s Bible reading is that the backslider-in-heart can still be preaching, ministering in songs, doing all kinds of work of the ministry, and even performing miracles, while in the process of backsliding.
8. Although Samson was going down into the abomination, when a lion roared against him, he responded with the same ability of the spirit he always had. Judges 14:6 says: “And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he world have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father of his mother what he had done.”
9. As if marrying a Philistine was not enough, on his next trip to Timnath, he went to admire the relics of his conquest, the carcass of a lion he had killed. Behold, the devil had set up a honeycomb right there in the carcass of the dead lion to ensnare him, and Samson fell for it; even though he knew that a Nazirite must not touch the dead body of an animal (Numbers 6:2-8).
10. Samson’s stomach and taste continued to lead him on his downward slide towards destruction, just as they did to Esau (Hebrews 12:16-17).
11. My prayer for you is that your appetite for the things for the world will not destroy you in Jesus’ Name.

Loving the world ends in destruction. It changes the route of a child of God from the right path to that of death. The devil through the world has a lot to entice and deceive saints with. However, if we ignore these wiles and stay in the Lord’s will and way we will surely triumph against all odds. Jesus faced a similar situation after forty days and forty nights of fasting but the indwelling presence of God brought Him through victoriously. As long as we remain in His love we won’t love the world or the things of the world. We will not take any step that will make us backslide in Jesus name. More grace to our father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, don’t let what I love destroy me, and don’t let me love what would destroy me.
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: The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. Proverbs 14:14
Read: Judges 14:1-3
1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Bible in one year: Numbers 7, Jeremiah 16:1-13

1. Backsliding is not an event but a gradual process that occurs over a period of time until it gets to a noticeable stage.
2. At that stage, people will begin to say an individual has backslidden, but what they fail to realise is that it did not start at that point.
3. Backsliding begins in the heart.
4. When a believer becomes filled with his or her own ways, that believer has begun to backslide.
5. That person would always be right in his or her own sight, and others would be wrong. Such a person would no longer take advice from anybody, becoming a loner.
6. ln today’s Bible reading, we see the case of Samson, an anointed Nazirite to the Lord, who began to backslide right from his heart.
7. The way today’s Bible reading begins is significant: “And Samson went down…”. When a person begins to go down, may the Lord have mercy on him or her. As he went down, he saw an abomination that enticed him: a Philistine woman. He came to his father and mother to tell them of his intention to marry the Philistine woman. His parents counselled him against this abominable desire, but regardless of their warning, Samson said “Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”
8. When a child of God begins to nurse the idea of getting engaged to an unbeliever, no doubt, he or she has started backsliding in the heart.
9. An unbeliever should not be an attractive option for a genuine child of God.
10. A female child of God should find it repugnant for a smoker or drunkard to become her husband; after all, such a person will get intimate with her after wedlock with smoky lips or a mouth saturated with alcohol.
11. A Christian brother should also see it as degrading to be married to a lady operating under the influence of the spirit of Jezebel — knowing full well how Jezebel destroyed her husband (Ephesians 2:2, 1 Kings 21 :25).
12. You are influenced by the environment you live in and the people you are intimate with.
13. An unbelieving woman or man will act as a weight around your neck, dragging you down to the pit of hell.
14. The different abominable things going on in the world are enough to deter a genuine child of God from marrying a person who is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
15. Such a person is not restrained from doing whatever the devil suggests to his or her heart and does not share the same standard of the word of God as a moral compass for life.
16. Today, we hear of wives sleeping with drivers and domestic staff, and we also hear of husbands sleeping with housemaids and their wife’s sisters -things that are abominable in the sight of God. Do you know that an unbeliever might not flnd these things abominable?
17. lt is a terrible thing to be associated with an “uncircumcised Philistine” in these end times. Beware of backsliding!

All believers who strive to make it to heaven must not joke with their heart and do all in their capacity to secure their heart. The truth remains that the Devil is not interested in your body but after ones soul. Many go to His presence with very nice and appealing appearance but deep inside of them they have hidden evil agenda. Judas Iscariot was with Christ for long and at the same time backsliding gradually until his cup of iniquities was full and hung himself. That is the reason why the Bible says “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬. The dimension the spirit of God took in today’s devotional is amazing. This is because many people go into marriage with an unbeliever and they comfortably make a family with such unbeliever yet they see nothing wrong with it. In School of disciples, we learnt that the kingdom of darkness is united and they don’t do anything contrary to their common goal(to steal, kill and destroy). A child of the devil will therefore do nothing different from what he or she has been commissioned to do which is to destroy the victim. This was depicted in the story of Samson and his wife. We shall never fall into the devil’s pit in Jesus name. As we study the Open Heavens devotional daily we are blessed. God bless the author Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, completely destroy the works of the devil in my life and in Your Church.
HYMN
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!
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!
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!
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 flres burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

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Memorise: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Read: 1st Samuel 15:17-22
17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?
18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Bible in one year: Numbers 5-6, Jeremiah 15:10-21

1. I have always admonished believers never to pray that God should humble them; this is an ignorant prayer.
2. The truth is that God has given everyone the capacity to choose whatever he or she wants to do, and He will not interfere with our choices.
3. For this reason, every man is responsible for his or her actions. Why is this so? This is because man, unlike other creatures, was created as an agent of free will. The Bible in Deuteronomy 30:19 says: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
4. The above passage of Scripture explains God’s attitude to man’s fall in the Garden of Eden. Although He had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, He did not try to stop them when they did eat it, even though He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.
5. His righteous nature would not allow Him to hold back the free will He had already given to them. However, they lived to bear the consequences of their choice to disobey God.
6. In our Bible reading today, King Saul momentarily forgot the low estate he occupied before he was made the king of Israel.
7. His forgetfulness caused him to think that he could flout the instructions given to him by the King of kings. He decided to listen to his human counsellors, and he began to rationalise the instructions God gave him.
8. King Saul therefore became swollen-headed, and Prophet Samuel who anointed him as king became “old school” and “old fashioned” in his eyes.
9. To him, there should be no ‘waste’; after all why destroy valuable fatted cows? Moreover, great kings would begin to pay tribute to him for sparing their lives.
10. Contrast this attitude against his humble demeanour before he became king.
11. He himself had once said in 1st Samuel 9:21: “…Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all families of the tribe of Benjamin? Wherefore then speakest thou so to me? Remembering this, Prophet Samuel in 1st Samuel 15:17 said: “….When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?”
12. May the Lord deliver his children from pride in Jesus’ Name.
13. Our approach to humility should be to heed the counsel of submission in today’s memory verse; the reason being that if we do not humble ourselves voluntarily and God has to do it, one could end up like King Saul, whom the Lord rejected from being king over His people (1st Samuel 15:26). May that not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.

Obeying God’s word is a great virtue every child of God must possess. Our love for Him is a driving force for this obedience. 1 Peter 5:5-6 says “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. There must be a move to show we desire to do the will of God and we must indeed go ahead and try. This willingness makes God help in our weakness. When we are able to attain the obedience level then we function in the things of God with ease. Obeying God is far better than facing the consequence of disobedience or praying ignorantly which when answered can get the person praying ignorantly into big trouble I not death. May God help us in our weakness in Jesus name. May God continually strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, I submit myself to Your Lordship. I will seek what You want, and what You hate, I will hate. Help me to stay truth to this commandment in Jesus Name.
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: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10
Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-11
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Bible in one year: Numbers 4, Jeremiah 15:1-9

1. A crafty and complex form of idolatry in our world today, which has been around for a long while, and yet seems to go unnoticed by most people, is the reverence and premium place given to the god of money (Mammon) in the hearts of mankind.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ was very clear when He stated what the first and greatest commandment was in Matthew 22:36: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
3. When our love, which should be given to God exclusively, is diverted to money, we err from the faith and expose ourselves to dissatisfaction and many sorrows. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
4. I am sometimes puzzled as to why people run after vanity.
5. In some countries of the world, government offlcials embezzle billions from their sovereign wealth and cart their loot away to foreign lands. Some of these officials have become even “richer” than their country by this act. One wonders what they would do with all this stolen money. Nothing reasonable for sure!
6. For such people, money has become their god, and so they worship it to the extent that the more they acquire, the more difficult it becomes for them to spend.
7. Find out from some so-called rich people, they find it difficult to spend their millions. They eat like paupers because money is their god.
8. In today’s Bible reading, the Holy Spirit offers us a way out of Mammon’s bondage. He said: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8
9. Beloved and fellow pilgrims, our stay here on earth is too short for us to run after Mammon.
10. Let us follow the Master intimately, because He is the only One that would always stand by us, even after we close our eyes in death.
11. Mammon would change servants immediately the fellow who worships him breathes his or her last breath.
12. Let us be wise and follow after godliness.

In God there is peace, joy and abundance. But in mammon is trouble, sadness deceit. I like us to meditate on Psalm 16:3-11 and then we will get a additional knowledge of the difference between being God’s and being Mammon’s. Psalms 16:3‭-‬11 says “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 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. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord , who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” May we never serve mammon in life in Jesus name. We will function in the fullness of our heritage in Christ Jesus and serve God till the end of time in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for yet another deep insight into the word of God.

Prayer Point
Father, please fill my heart with godliness and contentment. Grant me the grace to love You more than anything else in this world.
HYMN
1. 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’II 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.
2. 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]
3. 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]
4. To that 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: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10
Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-11
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Bible in one year: Numbers 4, Jeremiah 15:1-9

1. A crafty and complex form of idolatry in our world today, which has been around for a long while, and yet seems to go unnoticed by most people, is the reverence and premium place given to the god of money (Mammon) in the hearts of mankind.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ was very clear when He stated what the first and greatest commandment was in Matthew 22:36: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
3. When our love, which should be given to God exclusively, is diverted to money, we err from the faith and expose ourselves to dissatisfaction and many sorrows. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
4. I am sometimes puzzled as to why people run after vanity.
5. In some countries of the world, government offlcials embezzle billions from their sovereign wealth and cart their loot away to foreign lands. Some of these officials have become even “richer” than their country by this act. One wonders what they would do with all this stolen money. Nothing reasonable for sure!
6. For such people, money has become their god, and so they worship it to the extent that the more they acquire, the more difficult it becomes for them to spend.
7. Find out from some so-called rich people, they find it difficult to spend their millions. They eat like paupers because money is their god.
8. In today’s Bible reading, the Holy Spirit offers us a way out of Mammon’s bondage. He said: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8
9. Beloved and fellow pilgrims, our stay here on earth is too short for us to run after Mammon.
10. Let us follow the Master intimately, because He is the only One that would always stand by us, even after we close our eyes in death.
11. Mammon would change servants immediately the fellow who worships him breathes his or her last breath.
12. Let us be wise and follow after godliness.

In God there is peace, joy and abundance. But in mammon is trouble, sadness deceit. I like us to meditate on Psalm 16:3-11 and then we will get a additional knowledge of the difference between being God’s and being Mammon’s. Psalms 16:3‭-‬11 says “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 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. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord , who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” May we never serve mammon in life in Jesus name. We will function in the fullness of our heritage in Christ Jesus and serve God till the end of time in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for yet another deep insight into the word of God.

Prayer Point
Father, please fill my heart with godliness and contentment. Grant me the grace to love You more than anything else in this world.
HYMN
1. 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’II 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.
2. 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]
3. 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]
4. To that 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