MEMORISE:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15

READ: Isaiah 41:10-13
10 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.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

MESSAGE:
The Scripture contains a lot of “fear not” statements from God to His people. Fear is one tool the enemy finds most useful in making the children of God suffer failure, pain and destruction of destiny. Many a time, the things people are afraid of are not real, but their minds paint an imaginary picture of the object or situation out of proportion with the reality and the enemy helps to blow it up. Thus, people become afraid of things that should not instill fear in them. Certainly, there are some situations that are truly terrifying, but the Lord our God still charges us not to be afraid, He wants us to know that with Him backing us up, nothing and no situation can have us at its mercy. Isaiah 41:10 says:
“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.”

Fear is an enemy; it paralyses the potential for greatness. The Bible says fear has torment (1 John 4:18). Fear makes the one full of it disobedient to God; fear makes a fellow lift his or her situation higher than God, such was the case of King Saul who confessed that he had sinned because he feared the people and obeyed their voice, even against the instruction of God (1 Samuel 15:24). Being fearful is a sin that can lead one into eternity in the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8 says:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Of these sins, fearfulness is number one on the list. You have no business being fearful. Jesus our Lord is greater than any human being no matter his or her status; He is greater than any situation. Nothing and no one is a match for Him.

Colossians 2:15 says Jesus has spoiled principalities and powers. Isaiah 8:12-13 says we should not fear their fear, but fear only God. Once we fear God, we would have no one else to fear. You cannot claim to fear God and others at the same time.

ACTION POINT:
Go on your knees and confront anything, person or situation tending to make you afraid, in the name of Jesus. Command the spirit of fear to depart from you by fire, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 11-12.

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:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15

READ: Hebrews 12:14-15

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

MESSAGE:
Peace is an essential ingredient for progress; it is an important factor for man’s wellbeing and good health. Our God is the author and controller of peace. There is the peace that comes from the conditions of our environment- physical and no-physical. The fact that someone is a child of God and loves Him does not necessarily mean such a person will not have problems. Fear takes away a person’s peace, but when you put your trust in God, He keeps you in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). This perfect peace comes only through surrendering one’s life to Jesus Christ- Romans 5:1.

There is however something that can keep children of God from experiencing the peace of God- the root of bitterness. While this root of bitterness could affect a fellow’s behavior towards those against whom he is harboring such a feeling, the more dangerous effect of it is ultimately felt by the bitter person. Bitterness in the heart of a person creates room for hatred, envy and anger; it breeds unforgiveness and unhappiness. Indeed, the word ‘bitterness’ itself depicts what it offers- a “bitter experience”. It hinders the flow of Joy and peace.

How does it originate? It comes when one feels unfairly treated by another person or an organization; it is a feeling of being injured, whether physically or otherwise. Examples would include a sister being jilted in courtship, a fellow catching his or her spouse in adultery, an employee being short- changed by his or her organization, a person being raped and so on.

Are you battling against the root of bitterness resulting from some experience or the other? Please note that it is not in your interest to harbor it. Bitterness eats its host up; it negatively affects the physical wellbeing of the individual, as well as causing a strained relationship with God.

You may have heard me tell the story of a man whose wife had died, leaving behind an only daughter with a striking resemblance to the mother. The daughter was a great consolation to this man, but the lady’s husband was constantly maltreating the lady, to the point of threatening her life. The root of bitterness that sprang up in the lady’s father resulted in him becoming swollen, defying all medical care. He only became healed after forgiving his son-in-law. To retain your God-given peace, remove all forms of bitterness in your heart today.

ACTION POINT:
Check your heart to ensure that bitterness is not lurking in there. If you find any trace of such, let go of it and pray for healing in your soul.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 12.

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

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.

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

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

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MEMORISE:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

READ: Isaiah 26:3-4
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

MESSAGE:
Peace is described in Proverbs 17:1 as being more valuable than riches. Peace is essential for progress and success whether for an individual or group of people. I pray nothing will take away the peace of God from your life in Jesus’ name. There are however different categories of peace,

There is environmental peace- this has to do with physical security. Increasingly, nations have to grapple with terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and several other social ills that threaten their peace. Environmental peace clearly also affects the peace of mind of individuals.

Glory to God- Jesus our Lord is the Prince of Peace. What this means is that He is the controller, giver, sustainer and nourisher of peace for man. Lack of peace brings fear, causes confusion and leads to bondage. No vision, development or progress is made where there is no peace. Peace, at the highest level, can only be found in God Almighty. That is why no one else can boast of security except by coming to Jesus. This in turn makes Jesus the author of peace.

The Lord will keep evil away from you (Psalm 91:10)- be it kidnappers, armed robbers, assassins and the like, thus ensuring that you dwell in peace. Your mind will be at peace also. You however, must continue to love and trust Him with all your heart as well as resources. Psalm 91:1 says:
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

There can be no peace unless protection or security is guaranteed, according to Psalm 125:2 which says:
“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.”

These are the words of the Lord that cannot lie. Unfortunately, many children of God are ignorant of His promises, read His word, meditate on it, believe it, confess it and claim it. It will surely work for you.

We need to pay attention to today’s Bible text. The Bible encourages us to put our trust in God. This is the only way we can secure peace like a river in our hearts, homes, towns, cities and countries.

ACTION POINT:
Pray for peace in Nigeria and all nations of the world. Pray that the gospel will thrive in all nations of the world, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 8-9.

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

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

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MEMORISE:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

READ: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Acts 27:31-36
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

MESSAGE:
Every child of God is meant to be a carrier of divine treasure- the spirit of God. Thus, in spite of our earthen form, all children of God have supernatural abilities because of the presence of God within us.

God can work through you to achieve great things. Never underestimate the fact that He can turn around the lives of individuals, families, towns, cities and countries through you. Now, this is not about your physique, intellect or wisdom, but about Jesus in you, no matter how little you may consider yourself, God can do really great things through you (John 14:12).

In Acts 27:27-44, Paul was just a prisoner on board a ship transporting him and some other prisoners to Rome. However, when a great storm arose and it seemed death was imminent, everyone aboard the ship turned to Paul for help. Paul was able to lead everyone aboard the ship into safety because of the presence of Jesus Christ in him.

You can also become a successful leader. You can be the one to proffer a solution to that life-threatening situation. You can bring tears of joy rather than tears of sorrow to that brother, sister or neighbor, if only you would realize that the presence of God in your life has already furnished you unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:17).

We must however, keep our vessels clean if we want God to abide within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). Isaiah 52:11 says:
“Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.”

The ark of the Lord was in Obededom’s house for three months and God blessed him tremendously (2 Samuel 6:10-11). Obededom’s house must have been spiritually clean for the ark of God to have brought him and his household blessings, because the same ark caused a pandemic when it was brought into a land that was rife with idolatry (1 Samuel 5:1-7).

Jesus Christ has promised to dine with anyone that lets Him into his or her heart (Revelations 3:20) and the life of such a person will be filled with wonders.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, make my life Your special abode and workshop. Please perform wonders through me in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 7.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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MEMORISE:

Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isaiah 3:10

READ: Isaiah 3:10-11

10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

MESSAGE:
The Almighty God whose word can never fail (Isaiah 55:11) is the One who has said we should say unto the righteous that it shall be well with them (Isaiah 3:10). The importance of any statement depends on the person speaking. God is Alpha and Omega (Revelation 2:13); He declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and nothing can change His promise that says it shall be well with a particular group of people- the righteous.

So, the question is “Are you amongst the righteous?” The first step towards becoming righteous is surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can make us righteous. Romans 10:4 says:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Congratulations if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The next step then is to remain in Him so you can produce much fruit (John 15:4-5). It indeed would be a complete mockery of the whole sacrifice of Jesus if He saved us from sin only for us to continue in it.

If you have fulfilled or made up your mind to fulfil the conditions described above, I speak the word of the Lord into your life today: it shall be well with you, in Jesus’ name.

The statement “It shall be well with you” however means different things to different people. To the poor, it means his or her wealth is guaranteed because the Lord is the One who gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), to the captive, it means the fellow will be delivered. Our God is the Lord of hosts. He will destroy all the forces holding such a person captive (Isaiah 49:25). To the barren, it means that the person shall conceive; He is the One able to raise children out of stones (Matthew 3:9). To the one who has been experiencing failure, it means success is coming, for God is the Great Promoter (Psalm 75:6-7).

I believe strongly that God wants to do something special for His children in this season. Remember, His word can never fail. What He has said must surely come to pass. Hold on to His word in faith and you will never be disappointed.

It shall certainly be with you, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Thank God for making you righteous and for assuring you of a glorious tomorrow.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 5-6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: OH 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:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29

READ: Matthew 11:28-29

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

MESSAGE:
There are basically two people involved in a call- the caller and the called. The basic divine call is what we find in Matthew 11:28-29. Here, God is the caller and the called are all men. It is a call unto salvation which is universal. It hinges on John 3:16, a call from the heart of God. Hebrews 9:27 says:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. It is however amazing that some people who are considered wise because of their educational attainments prove to be the less wise when it comes to matters relating to God.
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1:28

A call once went out to the first man- Adam, in Genesis 3:9. This was after his fall into sin. Unfortunately, man mismanaged this opportunity by not accepting responsibility for his sin but rather, decided to blame his wife (Genesis 3:12). Another opportunity came through Jesus Christ the second Adam and our Redeemer. Congratulations to you if you have responded to this call that came through Jesus Christ, according to our Bible reading for toady. Having received this call, we are now children of the Most High God. We are now heirs of God and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17; I John 3:1)

Beloved, having answered the call of salvation, we have some obligations to fulfil. We cannot love the world and God at the same time (1 John 2:15-17). We must deliberately separate ourselves from the darkness in the world so that the Almighty God, who made the call can receive us (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

If however, you haven’t heeded God’s call for salvation, I enjoin you to do so right away, as tomorrow may be too late. Seek the Lord when He can be found (Isaiah 55:6) and surrender your life to Jesus Christ today.

I pray that God will see us all through to our ultimate salvation in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Thank God for the salvation of your soul. If however, you are not yet saved, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the call upon Him to save your soul.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 4.

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.

[Refrain]

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

[Refrain]

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

[Refrain]

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

[Refrain]

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MEMORISE:

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Romans 13:12

READ: Romans 13:11-14.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

MESSAGE:
One of the revelations God gave to us about last year was that the earth would convulse like a sick child. Barely a few days after this revelation, the world began to experience the ‘convulsion’, which came as the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst other issues.

The word of God is so accurate in its prediction of the last days, yet many ignore it. Being politically correct has been given prominence over the word of God.

It is saddening to see things that would have received outright condemnation some years ago now being considered normal, or even fashionable. A good example is homosexuality, which is currently enjoying public recognition and approval even amongst world leaders today. Indeed, the more developed nations are now threatening other nations that would not do the same. There are ever increasing levels of selfishness everywhere, so much so that, even amongst leaders, a few people enrich themselves while impoverishing the masses. Domestic crime has taken another turn-husbands taking the lives of their wives and vice versa.

Knowledge is also increasing at a very fast pace, giving rise to changing trends in technology. This in itself affects human behaviour so greatly that these new technologies tempt people to commit sinful and perverted acts.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” 2 Timothy 3:1-2

You will not be a victim of the end time calamities, in Jesus’ name. The spiritual and moral decay of the present day will not catch up with you, in Jesus ‘ name. The Bible says we are kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). All these signs show the fast approaching second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. You must therefore live every moment in earnest expectation of Christ (Titus 2:11-14) and as one of the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-9). You must have no time for idleness, but be busy serving the Lord, winning souls and living holy. You must be prayerful also- interceding for your family members and others who are yet to surrender their lives to the lordship of Jesus.

Beloved, the second coming of Jesus Christ is at hand. Will you be ready? The countdown has begun!

REFLECTION:
Check your commitment to Jesus and pray to God in the light of our memory verse for today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 2-3.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 26: TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE.

1. To God be the glory, great things he has done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son;
who yielded his life in atonement for sin,
and opened the life gate that all may go in.

Chorus:
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son:
and give him the glory! Great things he has done!

2. perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3. Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
but purer and higher, the greater will be
our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.

4. The Church is surrounded by storm clouds today,
and many have wandered down heresy’s way.
But firmly we hold to the faith we’ve received
and know it’s in Jesus that we have believed.

5. And so we acclaim him our King and our Lord
who here on the throne of his altar adored,
has shared his new life so that we all might live
and go out to others his love now to give.

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MEMORISE:

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 2 Corinthians 3:5

READ: Philippians 3:4-9.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

MESSAGE:
Any genuine child of God wants to be used by Him for great things. However, whether God would use someone or how far He would go with an individual is a function of many factors.

First and foremost, we need to realize that only God is All-Sufficient. Many passages of Scripture attest to this. He is the One who owns power in its entirely (Psalm 62:11) and power, according to scientists, is the ability to do work. God is the source and giver of wisdom (James 1:5-8, Colossians 2:2-3). You want to talk about strength? Isaiah 40:29-31 says that He gives strength and might. Na man should think of himself as adequate or self-sufficient. Whether in terms of knowledge, strength, power, wisdom or human connection, none of these is able to make a man adequate before God. It amounts to pride to wholly rely on your natural abilities.

Beloved, God cannot use you until you empty yourself before Him. Only empty yourself before Him. Only empty vessels can be filled (2 Kings 4:1-7). Many of God’s people are however, still full of themselves.

Beloved, if you go through the Bible, you would discover that the people God used are those who were nothing or who reduced themselves to nothing. If at any time He picks people who seem to have attained already, such people would have to empty themselves. Saul of Tarsus is classic example (Philippians 3:5-9). When God chooses you- no matter your status, all you need is His assurance that His presence will go with you.

In the Bible reading of today, Paul clarifies what we must know and do to qualify for divine appointment. The number one fact is that being an offspring of a pastor does not automatically quality one to become a pastor, pastoral calling is not hereditary. Two, Paul was a Pharisee and a doctor of the religious law of Israel but he had to empty himself before God could use him.
“Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:.. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” Philippians 3:4-7

The Lord qualified us when we disqualify and humble ourselves. May the Lord qualify you for His service, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I empty myself of all sense of self-sufficiency and pride. Please fill me up and use me for Your glory, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 1.

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,
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,
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,
filled with messages from thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power 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,
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,
ever, only, all for thee.

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MEMORISE:

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25

READ: John 11:39-44.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

MESSAGE:
It is God’s plan for His children to enjoy a long and prosperous life. If the enemy however, tries to steal the life of any child of God, such a fellow would become a candidate for a miracle. This was the case of Lazarus- a friend of Jesus Christ, according to John 11:11-13:
“These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.”

The first lesson we should learn in this story is that any friend of Jesus is a candidate for a miracle. The question is: are you a friend of Jesus or an anti-Christ? Jesus Christ is the best friend you can ever have. He is compassionate and caring. You need to have Jesus as your friend before the occurrence of any seemingly hopeless situation, as we see in today’s Bible reading. Martha, a sister of Lazarus said to Jesus:
“ …Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (John 11:21)

To her, Lazarus’ case was a hopeless one because he had been dead and buried for four days. However, the Hope of the Hopeless said “…Thy brother shall rise again” (John 11:23).

Beloved, I am inviting you to come to Jesus Christ today. Make up your mind that you will be His friend indeed by obeying all His commandments, because He said “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).

What do you need a miracle for? Is it a part of your body, your marriage, business or career that has been touched by the evil one? Jesus Christ is the Miracle-Worker. Make Him your friend today, put your trust in Him and you will receive your desired miracles (John 11:40).

Do you desire to live eternally? Romans 3:23 says “….all have sinned….” To have your eternal life restored, you need the miracle of redemption. The One who can perform this miracle is Jesus Christ the Son of Living God. Run to Him and you shall have eternal life (John 3:16-18).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I need a miracle. Please intervene in every hopeless situation in my life today and give me a testimony, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 149-150.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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MEMORISE:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

READ: Mark 5:25-34

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

MESSAGE:
Report have revealed that both orthodox and traditional medical practitioners have confessed their limitations in the healing process. Both orthodox and traditional medical practitioners are known to tell terminally ill patients to go home and prepare to die after their best efforts to save such lives have failed.

Mark 5:25-28 tells us the story of a woman with the issue of blood:
“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.”

In this story we see how the helplessness of physicians made the woman desperate for a miracle. When human beings cannot help a fellow, it becomes apparent that the case would require a divine intervention. The woman said in her heart that if she could just touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be made whole. She did and she got her healing. Jesus Christ knew that healing virtue had gone out of Him and asked for the identity of the fellow who touched Him. The Bible says the woman, though afraid, told Jesus what and how it happened. It is interesting to note that instead of Jesus Christ rebuking her or taking back the virtue that had healed her, He commended her faith. Jesus said “….Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (Mark 5:34). Beloved, it takes a divine touch to get such a miracle. If we can only have faith in Jesus Christ- the Great Miracle-Worker, we would also become candidates for miracles.

Are you facing any health challenges? Maybe medical practitioners have even described it as incurable. I assure you that as you exercise your faith today, Jehovah-Rapha will make you whole in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I believe there is no aliment You cannot cure; please, heal me of any infirmity in my body today, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 146-148.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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