MEMORISE: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8

READ: 1 John 4:7 -21

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

MESSAGE

Whether you love God or not is not known by your claims but rather, your attitude to His word. John 15:14 says:

You are my friends, if ye do whatsoever l command you.

Do you obey the commands of the Lord? If you do, then you love God. However, if you don’t, then you don’t love Him. In John 14:15, He said:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

In John 15:12, Jesus told us one of those commandments you must keep if you say you love God.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, just as l have loved you.

John 15:12

Now, that is a hard commandment to keep because some people are just so hard to love. This is why, at our Ministers’ conference in Nigeria, l always tell the attendees to say to the fellow sitting next to them, “I love you compulsorily”. On one occasion, one person was sitting next to someone who just offended him, so he said, “l love you compulsorily, you stupid fellow”. The people around you may be hard to love, but you must love them. You have no choice if you really want to love God.

When He says love one another as l have loved you, you se how difficult that is when you read 1 John 3:16:

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

You, therefore, see that your excuses for not preaching to others who are heading for hell are flimsy. If you love them just as Jesus loves you, you would be willing to lose anything so that they will not go to hell. It is because some missionaries laid down their lives to preach the gospel that you are on your way to heaven today. Why is it so hard for you to do the same for someone else?

kEY POINT

If you truly love God, you will be ready to sacrifice anything to ensure you preach the gospel to the unsaved and bring them to Christ.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 19-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

1 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, O won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love!

Refrain:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful story, Wonderful story of love!

2 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!

3 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!

MEMORISE: For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: Luke 5:9

READ: Luke 5:1 -9

1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

MESSAGE

There are miracles and there are miracles. There are miracles that people hear about and just shout ‘halleluyah’ for shouting sake; they are not moved. There are some other miracles by which the recipients are rendered almost speechless because they are enjoying joy unspeakable (I Peter 1:8). There are yet some other miracles that are so wonderous that the recipient would find it hard to believe and thus conclude that he or she must have been dreaming. Finally, there are frightening miracles. These are those where the recipient becomes so frightened that he or she may even attempt to run away.

Many years ago, God provided a Mercedes Benz car for one of our elderly pastors in The Redeemed Christian Church of God. This is somebody who never completed elementary education and never dreamt that he would own any kind of vehicle, not to mention a Mercedes Benz. When my driver took the car to him and said, “Sir, this is a car for you and you will have your own driver, fully paid for” he asked, “What kind of joke is this?” “I’m not joking, this is coming from the General Overseer”. He turned from my driver and began to walk away. My driver followed him, saying “Sir please take the keys” but he increased speed. He had gotten a miracle that frightened him. This month, God will give you a miracle that will frighten you, in Jesus’ name.

In our Bible Reading for today, we see the template for getting frightened miracles. Peter had just fished all night and caught nothing. Of course, he must have been very tired and frustrated, but someone came to him, asking to use his boat and he said, “Yes” without charging Him rent to at least make up for the fruitless night he just had. Peter gave a sacrificial offering that day and Jesus in return gave him a miracle that frightened him so much that he told the Lord to stay away from him . In 2 Chronicles 1:6-7, Solomon gave a sacrificial offering and God made him the richest and wisest king that ever lived.

If you can do what no man has ever done for God, He will in return give you what He has never given any man.

KEY POINT

If you can do what no man has ever done for God, He will in return give you what He has never given to any man.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 17-18

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: O LORD MY GOD, WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed;

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!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul…

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:
Then sings my soul…

When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
and take me home – what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, ‘my God, how great thou art!’
Then sings my soul…

MEMORISE: Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44

READ: Matthew 24:44 -51

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

MESSAGE

For many students, they start preparing for exams only after the exam timetable has been pasted. Thank God that they know when the examination will hold. For us Christians, we do not know when our examination will hold. We do not know when the rapture will take place, or when we will be judged. When that examination comes, how will God meet you. Will He meet you prepared? Interestingly, this examination is not one that you can re-sit if you fail. Hebrews 9:27 says:
And it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.

From verse 45 of our Bible reading for today, we see a category of people who God has sent to feed His children the meat of His word in due season. Are you preaching the true word of God to those you are sent to? If you are, when it is time for their examination, you will be called blessed and you will reign with Christ over all. However, if you are not teaching them His true word which has its foundation in salvation, sanctification,baptism in the Holy Ghost and the second coming of Christ, then the Bible calls such a fellow evil.

Don’t decide to start quarreling with people, especially fellow ministers of God, simply because the examination appears to be delayed. Don’t start insulting and criticising them publicly because you don’t agree with their views, even though God has sent them to preach God’s word to people, just like you. Don’t start mingling with sinners and joining them in their sin; the One who sent you – the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will come at a time when you least expect Him.

Repent quickly because if He meets you not doing His work as you ought, the Bible says that you will be cut asunder and sent to the same place as unbelievers, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

REFLECTION

When Jesus returns , how will He meet you doing His work?

BIBILE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 14-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HO MY COMRADES SEE THE SIGNAL

1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Refrain:

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing,
Satan leading on,
Mighty ones around us falling,
courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving,
Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we
triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages,
but our help is near,
Onward comes our great Commander,
cheer, my comrades, cheer!

MEMORISE: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20

READ: Psalms 107:17 -20

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

MESSAGE

The word of God has tremendous power to heal sickness and diseases. When you need healing, study the word. Our memory verse today says that the the word of God can be sent to heal and deliver from destruction.

When you send something to someone, you do it through a medium. One medium of sending the word of God is the Bible. Thus, in your Bible, God has already sent you the word that you need to be healed of any sickness or disease. When you study the testimonies of other people’s hearings and the promises of God concerning your health in the Bible, the power of God can jump from the Scriptures to your body and heal you.

The second medium through which God sends His word to heal is a man or woman of God. In 2 Kings 2:19-22, the Bible says that the waters were healed according to the word of ELisha. In 2 Kings 5:10, the moment Elisha tolerance Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan, the power to heal leprosy went into the river.

For a long time,anytime we held The Holy Ghost Service in Nigeria, after preaching, l would lay hands on everybody for healing and all manner of miracles happened. One day, l stood laying hands on ten thousand people for over 5 hours. After that, l knees l couldn’t do it alone, so l called some Pastors together and gave each of them ties that l had worn at previous Holy Ghost Services. The anointing had rubbed off on the ties so when they wore them and joined me in laying hands, miracles happened. However, we grew so much that there was no way we could lay hands on everyone. The Lord said to me, “While you are preaching the word, the hearings can be taken place at the same time”. That is how God started telling me, right in the middle of the sermon, as He was healing people. As soon as the Lord started to speak during the sermon, l would announced it to the people saying, “God said ther is someone here, He has healed you of such and such”.

While the word is going on through the man or woman of God, healing can be taking place. Now, l speak the word do God to you be healed in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

When a man of God is preaching be sensitive to connect in the Spirit because the Lord could be sending a word to you during that sermon.

BIBILE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 8-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

2 Under the shadow of Thy throne

Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defence is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same.

4 A thousand ages in Thy sight

Are like an evening gone;

Short as the watch that ends the night

Before the rising sun.

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away;

They fly forgotten, as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

6 O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while life shall last,

And our eternal home.