MEMORISE:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

READ: John 1:1-3.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

MESSAGE:
There is creative power in the word of God. It takes someone who is all-powerful to execute the gigantic project of creating the universe. This is what the word of God did and is still doing, according to the Bible reading of today. When the Lord speaks, His word brings whatever He desires into being. The creative word of God bears His power. This is the reason we must never take the power of God for granted. As a matter of fact, we must tremble at His word because it can make or break us.

It is foolishness to disobey God because He would not spare us if we do. Calamity has befallen many as a result of their disobedience to the word of God. Jesus says in John 12:48:
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

However, it is interesting to note that the power in the word of God is capable of saving us from sin. His word is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Without the word, man is in darkness but the word of God is the light of life. The Psalmist wrote:
“ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

The power in the word make the foolish become wise according to Psalm 19:7:
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

One more interesting thing about the word of God which people are unfortunately ignoring and rejecting is that it delivers from calamities and demonic oppression. In Luke 7:7, the centurion said to Jesus Christ:
“Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.”

The Bible further says in Luke 7:10:
“And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”

This incident corroborates Psalm 107:20:
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

Beloved, we must believe the word of God, act on it and make it our standard. Quoting the Scripture without living by it is an exercise in futility. Remember, only the doers of the word shall be blessed by it (James 1:25).

ACTION POINT:
Decide that you will study and live by the word of God from today. It will work for and defend you, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 111-113.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Had I but Mary’s sinless heart
To love thee with, my dearest King,
Oh, with what bursts of fervant praise
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all,
O mystery of love divine.
I cannot compass all I have,
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

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MEMORISE:

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Joshua 1:5

READ: Joshua 1:3-8.

3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

MESSAGE:
There are challenges in this world. This is what job pondered upon that made him conclude that:
“Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 4:1

However, we have the Lord’s assurance in Psalm 46:1-2, 4-5 that:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”

When we surrender our lives to God, He takes it up from there and become our ready Help. Beloved, who is your pillar of support? If it is God, I congratulate you, but if it is someone or something else, it is unfortunate. The Bible says:
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

Our memory verse of today is very assuring. This is an unfailing promise to all of God’s children. As I have taught my children in the Lord on several occasions, if God be for us, the only person who can be against us is our very selves. God has no problem helping man but He gave him a free will. Thus, to access the help of God, man must ask. The Bible says:
“ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19

The good news is that God has given us His Spirit to guard and guide us into the truth that we need to know, in order to make the right choice. Jesus Himself said:
“…..I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Surrender yourself to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and you will do exploits indeed. All the powers of darkness blocking your way to success and breakthroughs shall be destroyed in Jesus’ name.

ACTION POINT:
Search your life and see if there is anything in it that is offensive to God. Get rid of it and accept Jesus as your Lord if you are yet to do so.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 108-110.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not.
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow;
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

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MEMORISE:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

MESSAGE:
From the beginning of creation God has designed man to be His representative on the earth. Man was created to act on behalf of God on the earth. Genesis 1:26 says:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26

Man was relieved of his duty as a result of sin and lost all the privileges that should ordinarily have been easily his. However, the Almighty God offers us salvation through Jesus Christ who said in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

As many as respond to this call become Christ’s Ambassadors- representing Him everywhere on the earth. This was the authority the early disciples had and one of the apostles wrote in our text of today:
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.;” 2 Corinthians 5:18, 20

Beloved, are you a representative of Christ or the devil Your response to Christ’s call will determine whose representative you are, according to our memory verse of today. It is a good thing to be a representative of the Almighty God here on earth; the benefits are innumerable, ranging from spiritual to physical. What is expected of us to live according to our calling- not to disgrace the One who has called us but show forth His praise.

I pray that you will not miss it as the first man did, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me the grace to be Tour true ambassador at all times, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 105-107.

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:

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah 1:10

READ: Jeremiah 1:7-10

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

MESSAGE:
Power, particularly the one given by God is sweet. However, there is something sweeter than power and that is authority. When God give you authority, you become a ‘small god’ in your own right (Psalm 82:6). God gave Moses authority to go and deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of the Egyptians and he became a god to Pharaoh and the host of Egypt.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” Exodus 7:1

When we give our lives to Jesus Christ through faith, we become children of God by grace because He gives power to as many as receive and believe in His name (John 1:11-12). When we begin to do His will, following Him intimately, He gives us authority without measure. This is when we ascend to higher realms over and above principalities and powers of the devil. The unfortunate thing about many 21st Century believers is that they tend to be satisfied with the power to become children of God but hardly bother to possess spiritual authority like the believers from old. Many contemporary children of God operate below the level of the Old Testament prophets who were not privileged to have the kind of relationship we enjoy with the Holy Spirit. For example, in 2 kings 1:10, Elijah called down fire on those who came to arrest him. How many contemporary Christians can call down fire from Heaven?

While it is true that we are to preach the gospel of peace, we are also to show forth the praises of our Lord Jesus Christ as His priests (1 Peter 2:9). Luke 9:1 says:
“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.”

The Bible also says in James 4:7:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

To have such authority that will put the devil and his cohorts under our control, we must first submit ourselves to Jesus Christ. It is He who has all authority and power according to Matthew 28:18.

PRAYER REQUEST:
Father, please give me the authority to live above principalities and powers that may want to destroy or abort my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 102-104.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: CONQUEROR AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE.
Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory,
If the Lord be for us, we can never fail;
Nothing ‘gainst his mighty pow’r can e’er prevail.

Refrain:
Conquerors are we, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood;
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood,
Thro’ the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us, but unto him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood-bought victory.

Unto him that overcometh shall be giv’n
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from heav’n;
Over yonder he the victor’s palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

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MEMORISE:

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

READ: Deuteronomy 8:10-18.

10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

MESSAGE:
Many people think they cannot prosper in life unless they struggle. We must know that there is a difference between struggling and working. Work is a divine vocation which started with Adam. The Bible says:
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15

The truth however, is that you do not need to struggle before you prosper. It is true that you should be diligent because the Bible says the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:4). In the Bible reading of today we discover some truths about the mind of God concerning the prosperity of His people.
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

It is unfortunate that many people of God do not know that God gives power and opportunities to His children to get wealth, for one major reason: that He may prove Himself faithful to His word according to Exodus 3:17:
“And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Milk and honey here symbolize prosperity. Beloved, I have good news for you: God is interested in the prosperity of His people. Prosperity from God is without sorrow. The Lord who prospers is the same Lord who protects. He will not give you a car that will become a death trap. He will not give you a child that will break your heart. This suggests to us that there could be counterfeit prosperity. The devil is the giver of that kind of ‘prosperity’. However, Jesus is the true source of prosperity and eternal blessings. He paid the price in full, hence, you can never regret being prospered by His benevolence. The Bible says:
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

PRAYER REQUEST:
Father, please don’t let me have to struggle before succeeding, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 99-101.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 25: THERE SHALL 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.

4. 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!

5. 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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MEMORISE:
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:21

READ: Romans 8:1-8.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

MESSAGE:
People believe that the poor are automatically candidates of heaven, hence they are blessed. This is a misconception of what Jesus meant in His Sermon on the Mount, according to today’s Bible reading. No matter how poor or rich a person may be, if he or she is not reconciled with God through Jesus Christ, such a person cannot make heaven. The Bible says:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2

The trust is that whether a person is rich or poor, he or she will make it to Heaven only if the admission condition is met. What is this condition? Jesus Christ said to Nicodemus in John 3:3:
“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Spiritual bankruptcy could mean that a person is not born again, that the fellow lacks what it takes to please God, that is, faith in the Son of God (Hebrews 11:6). Spiritual bankruptcy could also mean that the fellow lacks the fruit of the Spirit and would therefore fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-23). When a person is spiritually bankrupt, the fellow will be ruled by sin rather than the Spirit of God. The Bible further says:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The woes of being spiritually bankrupt, however, are many. A spiritually bankrupt fellow will not be able to receive answers to his or her prayers, according to Isaiah 59:1-3. The fellow will become easy prey for the devil according to 1 Peter 5:8. Such a fellow will not have spiritual insight into the future and thus, walk into avoidable dangers. The solution to spiritual bankruptcy is new life in Jesus Christ.

Beloved, give your life totally to Jesus today, if you are still a sinner. If need be, rededicate your life to God for spiritual guidance and breakthrough. He will receive you.

PRAYER REQUEST:
Father, please help me to live in abundance- spiritually, physically, materially and maritally, in the name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 96-98.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. Matthews 9:21

READ: Matthew 8:14-15.

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

MESSAGE:
There are sicknesses that are not ordinary, but rather, are demonically inflicted. Orthodox medicine is incapable of curing such sicknesses. Even traditional medicine with its spiritual backing is limited in such cases because witchdoctors bow out when they are warned by the demons in charge of such sicknesses not to interfere. In Luke 13:11-16, there is a story of a woman who was bound by the spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Our Lord Jesus revealed Satan as the mastermind behind the woman’s affliction in verse 15-16 of the passage:
“The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” In Luke 13:15-16

God is still in the business of curing diseases – be they demonic or not demonic. He said in Jeremiah 32:27:
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

God who created the human body can resolve any problem that arises in it. God can fix any problematic part of the human body. He has replaced kidneys, lungs, livers, faulty eyes and so on, in the past and He is still in that business of healing.

There is no sickness too small to attract God’s attention and there is none too big as to intimidate Him. It is left for every individual to develop his or her faith to the point where it would attract the hand of God to perform the healing miracle. The woman in our memory verse of today said “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole” and she was made whole indeed. Jesus Christ laid His hands on the mother-in-law of Peter who was sick of what someone may call “ordinary” fever, and she was made whole as seen in today’s text. Remember, the sickness some people called “ordinary” has claimed millions of lives in history.

My prayer is that you will receive divine healing today, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER REQUEST:
Father, please lay Your healing hand on me and heal any infirmity in my body today, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 93-95.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.
1. Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all,
hear me, blest Savior, when I call;
hear me, and from thy dwelling place
pour down the riches of thy grace.

Refrain:
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore;
O make me love thee more and more.

2. Jesus, too late I thee have sought;
how can I love thee as I ought?
And how extol thy matchless fame,
the glorious beauty of thy name?

3. Jesus, what didst thou find in me
that thou hast dealt so lovingly?
How great the joy that thou hast brought,
so far exceeding hope or thought!

4. Jesus, of thee shall be my song;
to thee my heart and soul belong;
all that I have or am is thine,
and thou, blest Savior, thou art mine.

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MEMORISE:

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Acts 1:20

READ: Esther 1:10-19.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)

15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

MESSAGE:
One truth that everyone should embrace is that God always has substitutes. More often than not, the substitutes are always better than the recipients of the original mandate.

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. Esther 1:19

The above Scriptural passage was the genesis of the replacement of Queen Vashti in our Bible reading of today.

When a person feels too big to obey God’s instruction, he or she is not fit for the Lord’s use. Pride, stubbornness and rebellion are kinsmen in family of the works of the flesh, with witchcraft as their first cousin (1 Samuel 15:22-23, Galatians 5:19-21).

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from the story of King Ahasuerus and Vashi. One, Vashi should have known that she could only remain queen as long as she continued to please the king. Two, the portions of Scripture that declare the man as the head of the family are still valid to date. Three, the queen was supposed to be with the king on the throne as at the time he needed her.

A lesson to learn from King Ahasuerus on the other hand, is that advise on domestic household matters should not be sought from official quarters, for example, colleagues. It was not proper for him to turn the incident of the queen’s refusal to an official matter by seeking the opinion of his ministers on how he could manage his domestic affairs. He got more than he bargained for: the recommendation of his ‘service chiefs’ made him lose a beautiful queen.

Beloved, the ultimate lesson in today’s reading is that God can replace anyone who allows pride to rule him or her. We should know that God can replace anyone who refuses to do His will, just as He replaced King Saul with David (1 Samuel 13:13-14). May we never be replaced, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER:
Father, please help me to stop anything that could eventually make you replace me, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joel 1-3.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: PASS ME NOT, O GENTLE SAVIOR.
1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

o Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

2. Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

3. Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

4. Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

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MEMORISE:

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

READ: 2 Kings 6:26-30, 7:1-2.

26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

27 And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

28 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

MESSAGE:
Considering the economic situation in the world today, anyone can see that divine intervention is urgently needed. The fact that a few nations, especially in the so-called developed world seem to be ‘comfortably fed’ does not mean the world at large is economically stable.

Although the household of the king may not have felt the heat of food scarcity in Samaria as keenly as the masses in our text of today, the reality of the famine was undeniable in that city. In like manner, we cannot deny the heat of the economic crunch in the world today. I pray that, just as the Almighty God made divine supplies available for His children in today’s Bible text, so also shall He do for us in this present time, in the mighty name of Jesus.

The situation in Samaria, as seen in today’s text was so bad that Elisha’s prophecy of abundant provision within twenty-four hours seemed too good to be true to those who did not know the power of Jehovah-Jireh. Beloved, divine intervention defies natural laws and protocol. I pray that the Lord will intervene in every situation in your life as you read this today, in Jesus’ name.

One lesson we should all learn from the story in today’s text is that whatever God says will happen shall surely come to pass. 2 Kings 7:16 records that:
“And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.”

One of my children told of the reality of poverty on the streets of London where some people beg for spare “penny” to survive. According to him, these beggars are not even foreigners! This is also true of other so-called super powers including the United States, where there are thousands of homeless people. Beloved, I can assure you that, in spite of the seeming economic affluence in some places, there is still poverty in many parts of the world.

I pray for you that the Lord who intervened in the situation of Samaria will grant you divine supplies today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Give your life to Jesus Christ today. If you are already born again, ask Him to turn around every negative situation of your life today, even as He did for Samaria, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 40-41.

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:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18

READ: Acts 2:46-47.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

PRAYER:
1. Father, I thank You for all the pastors and missions across the world. Please Lord, help them to do Your will always.

2. Father, reveal our strengths and weaknesses in my local assembly and help us to make amends where necessary.

3. Father, please let Your Church never grow lukewarm. Let us never think that we don’t need You, Lord.

4. Father, on the last day, please let every member of my local assembly be amongst those who will walk with You in white robes, Lord.

5. Father, please don’t let the corruption of the world filter into Your Church. Lord, let the Church continue to stand strong and sure, even in the face of corruption.

6. Father, please restore the passion for missions in Your Church. Let the wind of revival that will take the gospel to the ends of the earth blow mightily in Your Church again, in the name of Jesus.

7. Father, don’t let the devil entice Your children with money. Destroy poverty completely amongst Your children, in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, whatever system the devil is creating in the world to kill the fire of Your Church, please Lord, let us rise above it and soar higher than the world systems, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, shut up forever, everyone in the Church who promotes the doctrine of the Nicolatians- teaching Your people the wrong concept of grace. Let Your people not be deceived, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, whatever it takes Lord, please help Your Church to be spiritually rich. Let us store up treasures in heaven.

11. Father, please don’t let me or any member of Your Church experience the second death. Let us all make it to heaven in Jesus’ name.

12. Your special prayer request for your local assembly.

THANKSGIVING:
Father, I thank You that Your Church is still standing strong and even growing. Thank You. Lord that the gates of hell have not been able to prevail over Your Church.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 39-40.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: CONQUERORS AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE.

1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory,
If the Lord be for us, we can never fail;
Nothing ‘gainst his mighty pow’r can e’er prevail.

Refrain:
Conquerors are we, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood;
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood,
Thro’ the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us, but unto him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood-bought victory.

3. Unto him that overcometh shall be giv’n
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from heav’n;
Over yonder he the victor’s palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

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