MEMORISE:
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

READ: Psalm 133:1-3.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

MESSAGE:
In our devotional today, we will consider the blessings of unity, which have been identified in the Scriptures to include joy, peace, and progress.

When you go through the Bible reading of today, you will observe the Psalmist lamenting, almost in despair. Perhaps this was so because he had seen how elusive unity was among the brethren, even in his time.

Today, despite the fact that we say “united we stand; divided we fall” in words, sing it in songs and rehearse it in poems, there are still divisions among us. Sadly, this is also the case among believers who should be the leading lights for this dark world. This is the reason joy, peace and progress have eluded so many believers today. This is why, as a Church, we have not been able to accomplish the Great Commission as effectively as we desire. How can two missionaries commissioned by the same organization to the same field of operation not be united? Sadly, this is the state of the Body of Christ in many places today. Believers now fall prey to the enemy, becoming casualties of this disunity. If the Body of Christ can work together in unity, today’s Bible reading says our blessing are guaranteed. The subject of unity is so important that our Lord Jesus Christ spent time praying about it in John’s gospel. John 17:21,26:
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me….And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The absence of love is a major cause of disunity. Jesus however, has prayed about this too. We see that in today’s memory verse. Beloved, let us begin to work towards the fulfilment of our Lord’s prayer, so that the Church can make headway in our missionary and evangelistic endeavors. Let us love- not in words alone, but also in deed. This way, we will maintain unity.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please let love- Your love, fill the hearts of all Your children and unite us all, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 13-18.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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MEMORISE:
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. Psalm 128:1

READ: Psalm 128:1-6.
1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.

MESSAGE:
The lack of the fear of the Lord has brought untold hardship to many people since the fall of man. However, those who have exercised the fear of the Lord in the past have fulfilled their destinies. Thus, every wise person must exhibit the fear of the Lord.

Joseph could have had his destiny cut short had he succumbed to the temptation of sexual immorality- an age- old sin. You would recall that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of this. Reuben also was cursed because of his sexual immorality with his father’s wife (Genesis 49:4). Despite how inviting the temptation was, Joseph feared the Lord and refused to take up the offer of sleeping with Potiphar’s wife. With fear and trembling, he declined in Genesis 39:9 thus:
“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

You may be wondering how Joseph knew that sleeping with another man’s wife is a sin against her husband and God, considering the fact that the commandment to refrain from adultery was given much later in Exodus 20:14. The truth is that God has written His laws on the heart of man (Hebrews 8:10, Romans 2:14-15. This is what puts His fear in us if we have not been given over to reprobate minds as seen in Romans 1:28.

Joseph prospered because he feared the Lord. Do you fear the Lord? Do you question the spiritual authority of your Pastor? Do you still hide under the clock of a ‘clear conscience’ even as you engage in sexual immorality? Today’s memory verse says:
“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways; that walketh in his way.”

The practical way of showing that you fear the Lord is by trembling at His word. Isaiah 66:2 says:
“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

I encourage you today to fear the Lord and abstain from all evil. As you do, God Himself will prosper you in all your ways, in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please instill Your fear in me and prosper me the way only You can, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 7-12.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God almighty
Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee
Holy. holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity

Holy, holy, holy
All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
All the cherubim and seraphim are falling down before Thee
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be

Holy, holy, holy
Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eyes of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Lord, only Thou art holy and there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity

Holy, holy, holy
Lord God almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
You are God in three persons, blessed Trinity
You are God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Oh, God in three persons, blessed Trinity

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MEMORISE:
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalm 127:1

READ: Psalm 127:1-2.
1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

MESSAGE:
Every creature needs some form of assistance. I is only God- our creator that does not need assistance at all. Of all kinds of assistance men may get however, the one from God is the greatest. Whenever God asks someone to partner with Him on any of His projects, He is setting up the fellow for blessings. When Jesus asked Peter’s boat to preach at the lake of Gennesaret, he did so because He wanted to make Peter a famous fisher of men, not because He wouldn’t have been able to preach without it (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus who walked on the sea could have done the same thing to preach if He had needed to (Matthew 14:26-27).
Anyone looking up to himself, herself or another person for assistance will definitely be disappointed. 1 Samuel 2:9 says “…for by strength shall no man prevail”. As great a prophet as Elijah was, he still needed divine assistance. 1 Kings 17:8-9 says:
“And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath….and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”

Neither the prophet nor the widow had anything to do with the arrangement; it was divinely orchestrated, yet they both cooperated with God to obtain His divine will. Children of God can learn something from this. When God wants to bless your ministry, you do not need to preach long sermons to persuade people to give. God can use humans to help you. When He wants to do that, the fellow loses his or her peace as long as he or she does not act in your favor in accordance with the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

Sometime ago, God used someone to provide for the completion of a structure in the Redemption Camp. The Lord put such a sense of urgency in the fellow that he could not even eat breakfast before rushing down to drop the money we needed.

Beloved, put all your trust in God and seek Him alone for help today. He is a faithful God and will never disappoint those who seek Him sincerely. I am a living witness to this truth.

God will send help your way today as you go before Him in prayers, in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, send help to me today- urgent help, Lord!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 1-6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE.

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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MEMORISE:

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Psalm 126:1

READ: Ezra 9:5-9
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

MESSAGE:

Restoration presupposes that something is missing or a loss has occurred, usually that of something good – whether spiritual or physical. There are some people in the Church today who have backslidden and need divine restoration. The danger in backsliding is that the fellow, more often than not, may be reluctant to leave his sinful ways (Proverbs 14:14) and might have been given over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28), if you have backslidden. I pray that you would retrace your steps today, in Jesus’ name.

When a fellow loses his salvation, so many unpleasant things happen. As in the case of Ezra and his people in today’s Bible reading, there was a corruption of virtues.

What then should a spiritually backslidden fellow or nation do to be restored? Like Ezra prayed penitently on behalf of his nation in our Bible reading today, a backslider too must be penitent and humble before God. Psalm 51:17 says:
“…contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 7:10:

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

In other words, when you are so sorrowful about your sins that you confess and forsake them, you experience restoration (Proverbs 28:13). When you repent, you are making a complete ‘U-turn’ from your trespasses. Ezra warned the people in captivity never to return to the sins that brought them into that state in the first place. He instructed them to stop the pollution of inter-faith marriage too (Ezra 9:12). This is a very important lesson to this world (Romans 12:1-2), but rather we must come out of the sinful environment, be steadfast, and separated unto God (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

When we obey God’s word, our restoration shall be complete and permanent. Have you suffered spiritual, physical, material, or any other kind of loss? You can experience divine restoration if only you would repent today and return to the Lord.

I pray that the Almighty God will restore unto you everything you have lost, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please restore to me all that I have lost, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ZECHARIAH 8-14.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.

1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

o Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

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MEMORISE:

They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Psalm 125:1

READ: Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

MESSAGE:

At the opening of the story in today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus saw a fig tree that, though blossoming, had no fruit. The Lord therefore decided to teach His disciple two major lessons from it. The first is the danger of fruitlessness even when the grace of God is upon our lives. The fig was leavy and green- a sign that it had potential to bear fruit, though it was not bearing any. Thus, Jesus delivered judgment upon it immediately. The second lesson Jesus taught His disciples on that day is on faith, because He decreed that the fig tree should dry up and it came to pass immediately. Jesus’ words in Mark 11:22 provide the foundation for our major lesson today. He said to His disciples “Have faith in God”

Whatever we desire as children of God, we should put it forward to the Lord in prayer and we shall receive it. You may wonder then why He asked in Luke 18:8:
“…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

The above is where the challenge lies for many believers who are yet to receive answers to their requests from God. The only way such people can get what they want is by exercising faith in God. Beloved, take note of the words of Jesus Christ in today’s reading which says “…and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

It is one thing to pray, it is another thing to actually believe that God will do what we have asked for. The story is told of a priest who called for prayers because there had been drought in the land. After the congregation had gathered for prayers, the priest looked around and asked “Brethren, are you not ready to pray?” the parishioner replied “How do you mean? That is what we have come to do.” He asked again “What have you come to do?” And they chorused” To pray for rain.” Then he asked “Where are your umbrellas and raincoats if indeed you believe God will answer your prayers?” The parishioners’ faith was stirred up so they went to fetch their umbrellas and raincoats. God honored their faith and gave them rain. What a lesson! Beloved, you must have faith in God for Him to bless you.

PRAYER POINT:

Increase my faith today, Lord I pray, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ZECHARIAH 1-7.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.

1. O 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 defense 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. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men”:
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

5. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

6. The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in foll’wing years.

7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

8. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.

9. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

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MEMORISE:

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. Psalm 34:5

READ: Psalm 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

MESSAGE:

Imagine how a wealthy man who is willing to do anything for his wife would feel if she were to go to one of the tenant- a bachelor well-known for his philandering ways, to beg for bread. This analogy, as apt as it may seem, does not even come close to describing how horrible it is when Christians seek help from sources other than God.

When humans look away from God and begin to consider lesser beings, including the devil, for help, that is idolatry. Sadly, what many people do not know is that lasting help can only come from God and not from such beings (Zechariah 10:1-2). Our only true source of help is the Almighty God, with whom there is no impossibility (Luke 1:37). No wonder the Psalmist says in 121:1-2:
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
In 2 Kings 6:27, a woman had sought help from the king during a siege against Samaria. Thank God the king was wise enough to know he could do nothing of himself. His sincere statement shows the true vanity in seeking help from any source other than God. God, on the other hand, promised His children in Isaiah 41:9-10:
“…..Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Beloved, examine yourself: from whom are you seeking help? You are making a great mistake if it is not the Almighty God. I am encouraging you to have complete faith in God for that help you urgently need; He will not fail you. Our memory verse today gives us this assurance. You too will testify today, in the mighty name of Jesus. All you need is to be sure you have a Father-child relationship with the Almighty God and leave the rest to Him.
The Lord is your only true source of help. Cry to Him today. If you are yet to be born again, repent of your sins and confess them to the Lord. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ and then cry to Him for whatever help you need. He will surely help you.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please send Your help to me today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ESTHER 6-10.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KNIG.

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

o Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

5. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

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MEMORISE:
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: Matthew 6:3

READ: Matthew 6:1-4
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

MESSAGE:
Some people may think that Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) is a twenty-first century concept, but that is not so. In fact, CSR has been in existence since the Old Testament days. I encourage you to read Leviticus 19:9-10; you will see from that Scripture that social responsibility had already been entrenched in the law of sowing and reaping among the children of Israel, and by extension children of Abraham in the faith.

When you cater for the poor, you are ministering deliverance to yourself; indeed Psalm 41:1 says that for anyone who does this “….the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.” Be they financial, physical, spiritual, marital, or career troubles, God will deliver you when you help the less privileged.

When the widow of Zarephath was giving her last meal to the prophet, she could not have known that she would be reaping deliverance from starvation for the next three and a half years, for herself and her household. Psalm 41:2 also says the Lord will preserve those who remember the poor and keep them alive. Thus, if you want long life, one of the surest ways of getting it is by giving to the poor.

Today’s Scripture reading tells us how best to execute our CSR projects before the Lord. God’s way of doing CSR is such that we do not seek the commendation of men like the people of the world, especially when politicians want people’s votes. When we engage in charitable deeds and then invite the media to broadcast it so we can receive commendation from the world, we are doing the direct opposite of what Jesus wants. I spoke extensively on this in one of my telecasts during the COVID-19 pandemic early last year. According to Matthew 6:2, we lose our eternal reward when we advertise our acts of social responsibility just because we seek human commendation. However, when we do our social responsibility Jesus’ way, our reward is eternal. Matthew 6:4 says:
“…and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
Beloved, remember the poor around you and be sure to put smile on the face of at least one person in need today. As you do, don’t forget to do it Christ’s way. God will bless you abundantly as you do, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, as I go about doing what You ask of me today, please help me not to miss my blessings, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HABAKKUK.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: I’VE A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD, HALLELUYAH.

1. I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah!
The message unto you I’ll give;
‘Tis recorded in His word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

Refrain:
Look and live, O sinner, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
‘Tis recorded in His word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live.

2. I’ve a message full of love, Hallelujah!
A message, O my friend, for you:
‘Tis a message from above, Hallelujah!
Jesus said it and I know ’tis true.

3. Life is offered unto you, Hallelujah!
Eternal life your soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, Hallelujah!

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MEMORISE:

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Psalm 38::1

READ: Psalm 38:1-9

1O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

MESSAGE:

It is disastrous for a Christian not to know the source of his or her challenges. It is indeed very possible that the challenge you are going through may not even be from the devil. It may be a chastisement coming directly from the Lord. Once you are able to confirm this, you must humble yourself in repentance before Jesus. you must always look inwards anytime you feel that your relationship with God is strained. That is what the Psalmist always did. Sadly, today, many Christians always want to exonerate themselves; they are so quick to attribute the challenges of their lives to the devil. At times, I imagine the devil saying “You’ve missed it. You are a child of God; I dare not come near you.” How I wish all Christians would be spiritually sensitive.

You must know that sin brings the wrath of God upon a sinner, irrespective of the spiritual standing of the fellow before he or she fell into sin. I know this is because Ezekiel 33:12 says:
“…The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression:… neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.”

Thank God for 1 John 2:1-2 which offers hope to anyone who strays into sin. It says:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
If you have sinned, you must not be too proud to repent. Likewise, when others have sinned, it is not your place to say whether they would be forgiven or not.
As a body, we are not to bury wounded soldiers who are still struggling to survive. Unfortunately, that’s what many so-called Christians do; we take away the life support from dying soldiers and make their journey to hell faster! There is enough room at the top for all children of God, so there is no need to pull anyone down in order to rise.
Don’t become an enemy to yourself. A house divided against itself shall not stand (Matthew 12:25).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to keep holding fast to the word of salvation and to live thereby, to the end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 7-12.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

o Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

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MEMORISE:

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

READ: Psalm 35:1-7

1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

MESSAGE:
Does your enemy have any legitimate claim against you? Are you sure your adversary does not have a genuine reason to attack you? These are the questions you must answer before inviting God- the Great Ally to come to your aid in the battle of life. Requesting divine intervention against your enemies will be counterproductive if you are the real enemy of yourself. How can one be an enemy of himself or herself? The answer is in today’s memory verse. You can be against yourself if you break divine laws, and this has its consequences. An example is in Malachi 3:8-9:
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”

Anyone who refused to pay their tithes is robbing God. What are you doing that is taking you away from your maker- the one who is supposed to be your unfailing Ally? You must answer this question before inviting God to be your Ally so you wouldn’t be inviting Someone you have taken as an enemy- that would be the greatest irony of all. Many times, I have told my children that there is only one person that can be against us when God wants to be for us and that is our very selves! The nobleman said to the unprofitable servant in Luke 19:22:
“…..Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant……”

We can also create enmity with the Greatest Ally when we abuse God’s temple either by sexual immorality or indecent dressing. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says God would destroy anyone who destroys His temple. Your dressing can destroy another person and when that happens, you create enmity between yourself and God. Thus, there is no way God can come to your rescue in the time of adversity. This is why you must ensure that your relationship with God is not in doubt at any time. This is possible when you accept Jesus as your Lord and forsake all sinful habits.

If you are already born again, continue to live Holy. When you do, God will fight for you and humiliate your enemies in ways you could never have imagined.

Beloved, I beseech you: do not be an enemy to yourself and ensure you are always on the side of God.

ACTION POINT:
Examine yourself and make sure the Greatest Ally is not only your God but your friend also.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: AMOS 5-9.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

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MEMORISE:

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Hebrews 1:9

READ: Psalm 33:1-5
1Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

MESSAGE:
There are many things we must consider before Romans 8:28 can become a reality in our lives. We have to first look at today’s Scripture reading in conjunction with the memory verse.

Today’s Scripture reading reveals that only a certain group of people can rejoice in the Lord and they are the righteous. In other words, even amidst al, the calamities in the world, the righteous can still experience the goodness of the Lord. We also see that what makes a man righteous is the word of God. Psalm 33:4 says:
“For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”

Psalm 119:9 and 115-116 also corroborate this. Although unrighteousness appears to have become the order of the day and it appears the wicked are walking around free and ‘rejoicing’, you must not be deceived because their end id destruction. I know this because Psalm 73:18-19 says:
“Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”

We see a contrast in fortune for the righteous in today’s memory verse, however. Here, the blessedness of the righteous is revealed. Those who love to be upright and hate iniquity are anointed with the oil of gladness. In other words, even when the world is in agony, the righteous are far from the calamities, rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord. A classic example of this is Noah who was preserved in the ark with members of his immediate family during the flood (Genesis 7:17). While others agonized and drowned, Noah was navigating upon the flood with his family. This is this is exactly how it would turn out on the last day; the righteous shall rejoice and the wicked shall be damned. Even now, God knows how He keeps His children from danger. Psalm 91 confirms this.

May the blessedness of the Lord be your portion from today as you live righteously, even in this perverse world, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Father, please endow me with the blessedness of righteousness, even as I live for You, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: AMOS 1-4.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 25: THERE SHAL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

o Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. 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!

4. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

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