MEMORISE:

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

READ: Luke 23:39-43.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

MESSAGE:
We may not be able to comprehend what true blessedness is until we experience divine forgiveness. Nothing can be compared with the joy of salvation. We see this with Zacchaeus when Jesus called him in Luke 19:2-8; it was that joy that caused him to make restitution for his past evil deeds. When a man is genuinely saved, he will not only joyfully live a godly life, he will also feel compelled to right his past wrongdoings. It is the lack of genuine salvation that makes an individual to still keep, for example, a strange man or woman in his or her life, even after conversion.

One of the most amazing salvation stories is in today’s Bible reading. With just a few hours before he would have gone to hell, one of the robbers on the cross besides Jesus experience a great turnaround and entered into paradise. From this, we can see that the salvation prayer does not have to be lengthy; it only has to be simple, straight to the point and sincere. All you need to do is repent of your sins and promise God not to return to them. Pleading the blood of Jesus over your life for cleansing is also paramount in this regard. We see the publican pray in Luke 18:10-14 “…God be merciful to me a sinner”. And Jesus said of him” I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather the other….”

God’s blessing (divine help) come in multiple forms but the blessing of divine forgiveness should be the first one we should all seek. In today’s reading, both robbers made separate requests. One asked for deliverance, the other salvation. Jesus Christ prioritized the request for salvation. Here we see true blessedness.

Beloved, true blessedness lies in the forgiveness we receive for our sins; it is upon this foundation that all other blessings are built. This is why if you are yet to repent, I implore you to do so without further delay. Confess your known and unknown sins to Jesus- the savior of mankind. He will forgive you as He did Zacchaeus and the robber on the cross, so that God’s blessings will flow into your life, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please pardon all my known and unknown iniquities and give me power to “Go and sin no more”, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HAGGAI.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: AMAZING GRACE! HOW SWEET THE SOUND.
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

7. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

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MEMORISE:

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15

READ: Proverbs 17:13-15
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

MESSAGE:
The ability to stand against evil is one of the many virtues that are gradually disappearing from the Church today. The axiom “If you can’t beat them, join them” has become widely acceptable. May God help His Church in the mighty name of Jesus.

Our memory verse today states clearly that God abhors those who support wickedness as well as those who unbraid the just. When we refuse to condemn evil and wickedness we will definitely reject and vote against the just. Jesus Christ, after commending their charitable service, faith and patience, warned the Church in Thyatira against tolerating sexual immorality, typified in the woman Jezebel who called herself a prophetess- seducing innocent souls in the Church. Apostle Paul cautioned us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

The call of God to us today is to stand up against evil, first within the Church, before taking the battle to the gates of hell. Unfortunately, many Christians applaud or ignore ungodly acts- even in the Church. They shy away from condemning ungodly acts for the fear of being condemned by the world. This is why, in some countries, you cannot preach against homosexuality; if you do, you may be jailed and it is your fellow Christian brethren or pastor who will condemn you as being foolish for not being discrete enough! Likewise, in some societies, violence against women, especially rape, is rampant, yet nothing meaningful is being done to stop the practice.

One of my children was once on a panel where some pastors were being interviewed for promotion. One particular candidate had been most passionate about his convictions with respect to ungodly standards as contained in the word of God, opposing worldly views with confidence. However, when this godly candidate left, another member of the panel said “If this is what that pastor is holding on to, he will not have ten people in his congregation!”

The truth has been mortgaged in some quarters of Christendom. Beloved, arise and let us, as one, stand against evil.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please revive Your Church. Let the body of Christ be light unto the world as we stand against every form of evil in our society in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDE.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 22: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS.

1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.

4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.

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MEMORISE:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:13

READ: Genesis 11:1-8
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

MESSAGE:
Any coalition that does not have God and His perfect will as its focus is evil. Our memory verse today says we are only made perfect when we come to the unity of faith which comes from the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This Scripture is simply saying that when we are called to unite, we must first ask for the purpose of such union. This is because uniting with people blindly could result in untold agony, as we see in the case of Jehoshaphat the King of Judah and his unholy alliance with the idolatrous Ahab King of Israel (1 Kings 22). It was only the mercy of God that spared Jehoshaphat from dying another man’s death.

The unfortunate thing about an ungodly and rebellious alliance is that it always ends in frustration and shame. Psalm 2:4 says when people do this:
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.”

We see this with the people at Babel in today’s Bible reading. They united in rebellion and God confounded their language, so they could not understand one another.

The record in Psalm 2:2 teaches us several lessons. One is God is always aware of any alliance to rebel against Him. The Almighty God will always reveal the evil plans of your enemies, in Jesus’ name. Two, God does not only expose the evil conspiracies, He also always does something about them. We see an example in Daniel 6:7-24 when the princes and presidents in Babylon conspired against Daniel. All those who are united against God’s purpose for your life shall be confounded and their purpose will be defeated, in Jesus’ name. Three, when God arises to foil the plans of those who unite against Him and His people, He leaves them confused and in disarray. Your enemies will never be able to agree in their decision to destroy you, in Jesus’ name.

Do not consent when rebellious people ask you to join them (Proverbs 1:10-15).

Beloved, look inward: are you uniting in any form of rebellion? Now is the time to stop, if you are. If you are not, I congratulate you. May the Lord grant you the grace never to align yourself with rebels, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
If the activities of your friends and those you spend time with are not in alignment with the word of God, part ways with them and make new friends amongst genuine children of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: RELATION 12-17.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.

1. 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.

2. 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
‘Til 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, I live.

3. 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.

4. 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:

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16

READ: James 3:13-16
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

MESSAGE:
Envy is so serious that Proverb 27:4 says: “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”

This means that wrath and anger are no match for envy. Beloved, it would take divine intervention for an envious person to escape the consequences of his or her actions. Joseph was an object of envy even among his brothers, so much so that they could have killed him if not for God who kept him. In the end however, all those who were envious of the grace of God upon his life bowed to him. Are you an object of envy from your household- biological or spiritual? The Lord will deliver you today, in Jesus’ name.

God’s word is true throughout the ages; thus, we must watch out for our attitude towards it. Jesus said in Matthew 10:36 that “….a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”

Joseph’s story is a lesson for believers who share testimonies of divine happenings that are still at the incubation stage, thus furnishing the enemies with information that could be used against them. Joseph naively revealed his dream of becoming a ruler to his brothers who were already envious. He could have kept the dream to himself and would still have fulfilled his destiny because it was of the Lord. I know this because Psalm 33:11 says:
“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever……..”

As God’s children, the Bible is full of assurances of protection for us. Psalm 23, for example, says that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil and that goodness and mercy shall follow us wherever we go.

We must be mindful however, of the kind of people we share our visions, dreams and aspirations with because the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We must not deliberately rouse the envy of our enemies because grace does not cover frivolity.

While we have the guarantee of the Lord’s protection, we must also be careful not to court envy by our actions or inactions thereby generating unnecessary strife.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please grant me the wisdom not to deliberately stir up envy. Please, protect me and my family from all evil.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: RELATION 7-11.

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:
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

READ: James 3:1-10
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

MESSAGE:
Apostle James captures the extent to which the tongue can go in destroying a person’s destiny, in today’s Bible reading:
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:6

The tongue indeed is a fire, thus it must be controlled. Controlled fire can be used productively; however, uncontrolled fire destroys. The tongue is so complex that it could be likened to a fountain that produces cold and hot water at the same time. What can we now do to this thing that the Bible describes as “….an unruly evil, full of deadly poison?” (James 3:8). Since the Bible describes the tongue as poison the good news is that Jesus promised us that even if we drink a deadly thing, it shall by no means hurt us (Mark 16:18). Therefore, one can see that every problem of man ends at the cross of Jesus Christ.

The story was told of a woman who was having problem in her marriage. She consulted a wise old man in her family who gave her a small, smooth stone to slip into her mouth and lick, remaining silent, every time her husband picked a quarrel with her. She did this and before long, peace was restored to that home. She ran to the wise old man to show her gratitude for the effectiveness of the charm only to have him tell her that what he had given her was an ordinary stone. He had merely found a way to make her keep quiet rather than destroy her home with her mouth.

The Bible says:
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Choose to speak only words that edify and if you must correct someone, do it constructively and in love.

All children of God must learn to control their tongues. As there is a time to talk, there is also a time to keep silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

When we talk, our words must be fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11) in due season (Proverbs 15:23).

PRAYER POINT :
Help me Lord to bridle my tongue at all times, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: REVELATION 1-6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: OH WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY.

1. O what a wonderful, wonderful day
Day I will never forget
After I’d wandered in darkness away
Jesus my Savior I met
O what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling
He made all the darkness depart

Refrain:
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul (filled my soul)
When at the cross my Savior made me whole (made me whole)
My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul

2. Born of the Spirit with life from above
Into God’s family divine
Justified fully thru Calvary’s love
O what a standing is mine
And the transaction so quickly was made
When as a sinner I came
Took of the offer of grace He did proffer
He saved me, O praise His dear name

3. Now I’ve a hope that will surely endure
After the passing of time
I have a future in heaven for sure
There in those mansions sublime
And it’s because of that wonderful day
When at the cross I believed
Riches eternal and blessings supernal
From His precious hand I received

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MEMORISE:
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. Proverbs 20:25

READ: Proverbs 6:1-5
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

MESSAGE:
The world, from the beginning, has been full of deceit. This is why, today, the Lord is warning all His children to beware of being guarantors for people who would not keep their promises. Some people have lost all their life savings because they stood as surety for people who defaulted in repaying bank loans. Today’s memory verse reveals the folly of making enquiry after already vowing. That action can have eternal implications; Romans 13:8 warns that we should owe no man anything except love. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 further says:
“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

God is warning us through today’s Scripture reading to avoid standing surety to those we do not know very well, unbelievers in general and particularly unstable or inconsistent ‘brethren’ in the Church. This is because such people could turn out to be heartless foes when they begin to default.

Marriage vows are more serious, and as believers we must honor them. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing in the Church today- pretenders who take innocent souls to the altar deceitfully just to wreak havoc on the spiritual lives of their victims. You must beware and take todayy’s warning seriously. If you are among the deceivers in the Church, you must repent today, before the judgment of God comes upon you.

As a young person preparing for marriage, pay close attention to getting to really know your potential spouse very well. Do not forget: marriage is for better and for worse. It is better for you not to make a vow at all than to make one and then be seeking to annul it. Be wary of presumptuous love affairs and love at first sight. Take your time to investigate the life and background of the fellow you want to spend the rest of your life with. I have always said “If love is blind, marriage would heal the blindness”.

Beloved, as children of God our integrity must never be questionable, so before you commit yourself in any way, always exercise due diligence and seek God’s guidance.

PRAYER POINT:
Please Lord, I seek Your guidance in all that pertains to me. Help me to always rely on Your leading before I make any decision, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MICAH

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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:
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: Proverbs 5:3

READ: Proverbs 5:1-13
1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

MESSAGE:
The creation of the woman is one of the best things to happen to man. God described the woman as a ‘help meet’ for man in Genesis 2:18. When women are abused however, they become strange and can turn into a problem for any man who crosses their paths.

As a man, a strange woman is that lady who is not approved by God to see your nakedness in any ramification- physical or emotional. No woman apart from your wife, should know your secrets. This is equally applicable to a woman. When someone other than your husband knows everything about you, the fellow may use the information against you someday. Many marriages have been destroyed as a result of careless conversations with strange people. As a Christian husband, you must learn to discuss your issues with your God-ordained wife and not strange women, if you want to get the best of God’s provision in your wife. Proverbs 5:15,17-18 says:
“Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well…… Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.”

Strange women are deceitful in everything, even in their looks. That explains why a lot of them have to hide their real face under heavy makeup as if they are dissatisfied with how God has created them. A man’s legitimate wife would not need heavy makeup before she looks attractive to him. You begin to wonder who strange women are trying to impress- their husbands who are already familiar with their bodies or men who do not have access to their private life.

Proverbs 5:7-9 says:
“Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:”

Whether you are a man or woman, married or single, you must watch out for ungodly relationships or those with the potential to turn into such, with members of the opposite sex. May the Lord help you as you do so.

ACTION POINT:
Establish godly boundaries for all dealings with members of the opposite sex. The only intimacy God approves of is with your spouse.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MICAH

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:
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. 1 Timothy 5:22

READ: 2 Chronicles 18:28-34.
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

MESSAGE:
Many Christians today are partaking in other people’s sins knowingly or unknowingly. It is unfortunate that those who indulge themselves in aiding and abetting sinful lifestyles fail to realize that, not only are they partaking in such sins along with the sinners, they would also be partakers of the punishment. When you serve alcohol to your guests, you are not only encouraging the sinful act, you are also guilty as the drinkers! Trading in alcohol as a child of God is even worse. Habakkuk 2:15 says:
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”

In our Bible text of today, we read about how Jehoshaphat- the King of Judah, partook in the sin of his friend- the King of Israel and was almost killed. But for divine intervention. Jehoshaphat would have died in the battle that was not his. The Bible says:
“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.” Psalm 125:2-3

We as children of God must cease being partakers of the sins of unbelievers, so that we will not suffer their punishment with them. Do not enter into a business partnership with people who do not share same values with you. Partnering with someone who does not believe in tithing or someone who does not have a problem with cutting corners will only get you into trouble down the road.

Are you aiding and abetting sin in anyway? Repent today and prayerfully share what the word of God says bout such sins with the concerned persons. I join my faith with yours and declare that as you obey, God will save such persons and hold you blameless, in Jesus’ name.

ACTION POINT:
Examine your life carefully and repent from all actions and inactions that encourage other people to commit sin.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JONAH

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY STAIN?

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

o Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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MEMORISE:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:27

READ: 1 Corinthians 9:27

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

MESSAGE:
One of the three expressways to sin is the flesh, which describes the sinful nature of the fallen man. The works of the flesh are listed in Galatians 5:19-21:
“ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:17 says that the flesh against the Spirit. We must be careful not to fulfil the lust of the flesh as Apostle Paul warned in Galatians 5:16, knowing fully well that the flesh would typically want to behave sinfully. He himself lamented thus:
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24

To the glory of God, he found a solution to this problem as he wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:27
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Like Apostle Paul, we too can overcome the negative influence of the flesh by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and committing to live our lives to His pleasure.

Our annual New Year resolution to live a godly life cannot help us in this regard. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can any man overcome the flesh. This is why Jesus is calling everyone, saying:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

As we cry out to the Lord for help to live for Him alone, bringing our flesh into submission, the Holy Spirit will help us and we also would be able to say, like Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

May the Lord give us victory over the flesh, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please endow help me to uproot every seed of sin the devil has planted in my life and give me victory over the flesh, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ISAIAH 56-61.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.

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.

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

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

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

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

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MEMORISE:

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

READ: Psalm 121
1I 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:
When there was a famine in Samaria, two women conspired to take turns to kill their children for food. After they ate the child of the first woman, the other refused to surrender her own son for food. The first woman cried to the king for help but he replied, according to 2 kings 6:27 “….If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?”

The Psalmist is right in saying that his help comes from the Creator of heaven and earth, according to our memory verse today. Genuine help can only come from above. The Lord said in Psalm 50:15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Many people however, trust other humans, to their disappointment. The Bible discourages us from putting our trust in men. Jeremiah 17:5 says “…..Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Whereas verse 7 of the same chapter says “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”

Many years ago, someone heard that I was building a house and volunteered to supply blocks since he was a block manufacturer, offering to let me pay at my convenience. The moment this man realized I was roofing the house, he began to pester me to pay for the blocks he had supplied, in spite of our agreement that I could pay at my convenience. I reminded him that he was the one who offered that I could pay at my convenience but he insisted that I have to pay immediately. I cried to God for help with a promise that I would never make such a mistake again and He recued me. Beloved, I prophesy to your life that the help which would not expose you to ridicule afterwards will come your way this season, in Jesus’ name.

You must however put your trust in the Lord; you must choose not to have a ‘Plan B’ to your Present Help- the Almighty God. More importantly, you must surrender your life totally to Jesus Christ and abstain from all appearance of evil according to 1 Thessalonians 5:22.

The Lord will send you help from above, in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please send help from above today and don’t let me be put to shame, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ISAIAH 45-50.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: 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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