MEMORISE:
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:26

READ: Colossians 3:5-17

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

MESSAGE:
Some people keep returning to sin over and over, despite having asked Jesus to come into their lives. They wonder how others live above sin. The answer is sanctification. When a person is sanctified, he/she loses the taste for sin. The Bible describes it in Hebrews 1:9:
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

When a person is sanctified, sinful habits that used to excite him/her become irritating. As a result, the fellow is able to lead a life of holiness in Christ. Sanctification is the grace of God that helps a man to live above sin. If you are still struggling with sin, then you need to be sanctified.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

To be sanctified, you must first confess all your sins to God (1 John 1:9). You can also experience sanctification if you are an avid student of the word of God. John 17:17 says:
“ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

If you want to enjoy your Christian life, feed on the word of God. David said in Psalm 119:11:
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

The more of God’s word you study, the more sin will disgust you. If you are studying your Bible, God’s word will begin to influence the way you see things and how you behave.

The word of God has a Spirit which gives life, and that life, being Jesus will enter into you as you study it daily. It is Jesus who makes it easy for you to live holy. Take up the challenge today and you will overcome sin, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

Study at least one chapter of the Bible by yourself daily. You need the word to stay satisfied.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 17
Mark 9
Luke 9:28-62

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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Memorise:
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:30

Read: Matthew 5:28-30 (KJV)

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Message:
The devil is cunning, not wise. When he sees a Christian determined not to commit sin, he puts strategies in place to ensure such a one falls. He locates the person’s weakness. Then searches for a channel through which he can bring him/her down.

Once the devil discovered Moses’ weakness, he began to find ways to get him angry, so he could misbehave. He used Miriam but Moses overcome (Numbers 12:10-13); he also used the Israelites to get him angry by successfully tempting them to worship the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). On Moses’ return from the mountain, he got so angry with the Israelites that he broke the tablets God had just given him (Exodus 32:19). The devil knew anger was Moses’ weakness so he continued using the Israelites to annoy him. At another time, Moses let the murmurings of the Israelites get to him again and he lost his temper terribly (Numbers 20:10-12). The devil had him in his hands.

Since the devil has made it a point of duty to discover and exploit the weakness of all Christians, what should we do?

Block every channel he would use to employ that weakness against you. The devil knows you can control what you see on the streets, so he might try another channel – your phone. If you allow lust to take over when provocation pictures pop up on your phone, the devil will rejoice in having found a channel to destroy you. He will then start to introduce more provocative pictures and even more sites to nurture the seed of lust he has planted. You won’t be a victim in the mighty name of Jesus.

Brother, the devil could attack you through the smile of a young lady when you are stressed. He could use provocation from your spouse to lure you to source money through shady means. Whatever that channel may be, cut it off completely or train your mind to ignore it. If Moses had blocked the channel of anger early enough, perhaps he would have overlooked the murmurings of the Israelites and reached the promised land.

You have the chance now, don’t become a victim. Block those channels!

Prayer Point
Father, expose every hidden channel of destruction the devil could use against me. Give me the grace to block and forsake them completely, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Bible in one year: Matthew 13, Luke 8

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MEMORISE:
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

READ: Luke 5:1-11
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

MESSAGE:
In Luke 1:1-11, Jesus entered into Simon’s boat and asked him to push a little from the land. Simon not only accepted but also allowed the Lord to preach from his boat for as long as He wanted. Afterwards, Jesus rewarded Simon by blessing Him with the greatest catch he had ever had. God never ignores any good act. He always rewards, and He does so bountifully.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

Sometimes, it may appear that you are not getting rewards for your labor in the house of God. This may be because the coming reward is indeed very great and God is preparing you for it. Don’t lose hope. It will come at the right time if you keep working for God.

Joseph was honest and hardworking, yet he was thrown into prison. In the prison, he interpreted the chief butler’s dream yet for two years it appeared there was no reward coming (Genesis 40, 41). However, by the time God was going to bless him, the reward was great. He became the second in command to the most powerful man in the whole world at the time. That is what happens when you are not weary in well-doing.

God will reward every sacrifice – your time or money, in multiple folds. Hebrews 6:10 says: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Only an unrighteous person will refuse to say Thank you when something has been done for him/her, not God. He is not unrighteous.
Matthew 19:29 says anyone who sacrifices the comfort of family and home just to please and obey God will get a hundred-fold reward and also inherit everlasting life.

Do not be weary in well-doing, your reward is coming.

PRAYER POINT
Father, please help me to serve You with all of my heart and to wait patiently on You, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11

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MEMORISE:

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45:3

READ: Isaiah 45:1-6

1Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

MESSAGE

Treasures are precious objects of great value. The accumulation of such could however lead to pride (1 Timothy 6:17), greed (Luke 12:15), dishonesty (Joshua 7:21). And idolatry (Exodus 32:2-4).

Real treasures are however spiritual with eternal value, and they come from knowing and serving God. Such treasures are usually hidden and could turn out to be anything around us: it was a slave girl in Naaman’s case (2 Kings 5:2-3), a little jar of oil in the case of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 and David in Jesse’s case (1 Samuel 16:11). Moses was a hidden treasure reserved for the salvation of Israel. I cited all these examples of ordinary people and objects that were hidden treasures to explain that the All-Knowing God is able to make all things work together for the good of His children. Romans 8:28 says:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

In many cases, treasures are not easily identified even when in plain view. That is why it is very important to develop a good relationship with God and live at peace with our neighbors. The slave girl may not have volunteered the information that led to Naaman’s healing had she been ill-treated in that household. The widow’s neighbors may not have loaned her so many vessels if she had not maintained a good relationship with them. The divine appointment of David as king and Moses as Israel’s first spiritual leader would not have happened if they did not have a good relationship with God.

If you want God to reveal hidden treasures that would lead to great and unprecedented breakthroughs in your life, you must first accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then live in total submission and obedience to God. Only then can you be sure of accessing the hidden treasures of God and all things will begin to work in you favor.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to identify the hidden treasures in my life, in the mighty name of Jesus.

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MEMORISE:
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

READ: 1 Samuel 16:18-19

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

MESSAGE

Having established yesterday that your period of loneliness will soon be over, today, I want us to look more deeply at David’s major preoccupation when he was alone with the sheep. This major preoccupation is also what attracted the anointing that broke the yoke of loneliness in his life. 1 Samuel 16:18-19 gives a report about David while he was alone with the sheep.

“Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.”
David’s harp-playing prowess was attested to by one of King Saul’s servants who had witnessed David playing while he was alone with the sheep. The servant could attest to the fact that God was with David, so in the reality he was never lonely. When I used to drive myself around, many times I would praise God to such an extent that His presence would fill the car and I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on driving. I would have to park the car on the road side for a bit. Now, I spend hours walking alone in the middle of the night, praising God. Sometimes, I go into the bush because I don’t want any disturbance, but never do I feel alone in those times. Today, I have so many people around me that it would be difficult for me to be lonely in any part of the world.

God’s presence is the best company you can ever want. If you spend your lonely days praising God, doing His will and soaking yourself in His presence, soon, He will anoint and lift you out of that place of loneliness and you would become one whom the whole world would want to spend time with.

KEY POINT:
Constantly soak yourself in the presence of the Lord. Very soon, the whole world will want to be with you.

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BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 42-43

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14

READ: John 11:11-36
11 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.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

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

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

MESSAGE
It is a great thing to be a disciple of Christ. It is however even much better to be a disciple and friend of Jesus at the same time.

In the course of His earthly ministry, Jesus began to develop a more intimate relationship with some of His disciples and he called them friends.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:13-15

A classic example of a friend of Jesus is Lazarus. In John 11:11 Jesus said “……Our friend Lazarus sleepeth….” This level of intimacy was emphasized by John 11:35 which says “Jesus wept.”

The Lord God helped me to develop such an intimate relationship with Him that I began to see Him as my “My Daddy” and not just “Our Father”. This offended some people who wondered why I would be calling God ‘Daddy’. If God is their Father and He happens to be my Daddy, what is the problem? My prayer for you today is that the Holy spirit will assist you to develop a relationship with Him that would give you the boldness to call the Almighty God ‘Daddy’ in the mighty name of Jesus.

To be admitted into the circle of friends of Jesus, you need to fulfil only one condition as set in John 15:14 “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” The moment you begin to walk in obedience to the commandment of God, you have become a friend of Jesus. His commandments are not hard to obey or burdensome to live by. He also promises to give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to be obedient to Your commandments foever, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Habakkuk 1-3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Romans 12:12

READ: Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

MESSAGE:
Abraham, despite being childless at ninety, kept his hope to be a father of many nations (Romans 4:18). However, many Christians today have lost hope in God’s promises, waiting for their physical manifestation before they believe.

If you are in the category of Christians described above, ask God today for grace to remain hopeful in His promises for your life.

Abraham for example enjoyed this grace (Romans 4:16) even before Jesus was born and our savior confirmed this when He said: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). The grace was so sufficient that he hoped against all odds and developed faith that earned him friendship with the Almighty God.

Hope is a key element in describing faith (Hebrews 11:1) without which no man can please God (Hebrews 11:6). Hope ensures that we obey His command to always rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16) even in the midst of tribulations.

Hope is the assurance that what we desire will come to pass (Romans 8:24). Today’s memory verse also lets us know that through hope, we can develop patience and strength especially in tribulation. It is saddening however, that some Christians lose hope and backslides in the face of trials. This ought not to be.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus talks about rejoicing as a means of endurance, as well as the blessings attached to enduring persecution. James 1:12 also says:
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Hope also helps one to tarry for results in the place of prayer. Someone who lacks hope wont pray long before searching for an alternative.

Abraham had faith in God and it was imputed to him for righteousness (Romans 4:17-22). Beloved, are you losing hope already? Please do not, because there is glory ahead of you. Be patient so you can obtain (Colossians 1:27).

ACTION POINT:
Take time to give God intense worship even when it seems difficult to do so. Hope shall rise for your comfort.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 38-40. Psalm 74, 79

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.

1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.

o Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

2. Be joyful, for He is the Lord
On earth and in Heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word—
The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

3. What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail?
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

4. Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

5. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Let gratefulness give all a voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

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