MEMORISE:
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10

READ: Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

MESSAGE
Rubies are precious stones considered to be next in value to diamonds. The value of a stone is determined by its purity. A Christian woman has been bought by the blood of Jesus and you can never put a price on that.

To be above rubies is to sit with Christ in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. To be far above rubies is to be a woman of virtue- filled with the Holy Ghost and bearing fruit, a woman whose mouth is controlled by the Spirit of God, having a quiet spirit. She can hear the Lord when He speaks. To be far above rubies is to be a woman of prayer- not the one who sleeps at night. A woman who is far above rubies is a warrior- a prayer warrior. Many of us are here today because of the prayers of our mothers but how many of us pray for our children?

“She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” Proverbs 31:15

To be far above rubies is to be a woman who is trustworthy. Sister, are you trustworthy? Can your husband’s heart, sister’s heart or church members’ hearts safely trust you? Any woman operating below this standard has lost her value and like salt without savor, will be thrown on the ground to be trodden on. Nobody throws gems or precious stone on the floor.

A woman who is far above rubies is a mother- she nurtures. This goes beyond carrying a child in your womb; it is about serving others with your gifts and resources so they can prosper. Deborah was such a woman. In Judges 5:7, she said:

“The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.”

Deborah’s generation was preserved because of her. What will your generation say about you? My sister, you are far above rubies; don’t live as though you were less.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please restore every virtue that has gone out of me and cause me to arise to take my place in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 33-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
o Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

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MEMORISE:
And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2 Chronicles 20:22

READ: 2 Chronicles 20:1-26

1. It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.

3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.

MESSAGE

We are always engaged in battles and the greatest weapon of our warfare apart from holiness is praise. When you are going to war against odds that are far too great for you, the only way to win is by praising God. That was the strategy of Jehoshaphat. He knew that there was no way he could have defeated three great kings, so instead of calling a meeting with the general of his army to plot strategies, he went to God in praise.

“ And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?” 2 Chronicles 20:6

There were Jehoshaphat’s words to the Most High God. There is no way God would hear such words of praise from His child and not pay attention to the fellow. When Jehoshaphat was through, God told him: Don’t worry boy, I will fight this battle Myself. When you pray, you fight your battles, but when you praise, God fights for you. On the day of the battle, Jehoshaphat appointed singers, not soldiers to go to the battle field. Today’s memory verse says:

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

By the time they got to the battlefield all their enemies were already destroyed; all they had to do was to take the spoils of war. As you sing and praise God henceforth, all your enemies will be destroyed.

If you have already been captured by the enemy, put in prison and bound, the only way to get out is by praise. If you don’t believe me, ask Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25-34). When you are in any impossible situation, deploy the weapon of praise. Praise has never failed me before. It will not fail you either, in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

With praise as your weapon of warfare, there is no enemy too great for you to conquer.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 31-32

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND.

1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
praise the Lord for he is kind:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us sound his name abroad,
for of gods he is the God:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

3 He with all-commanding might
filled the new-made world with light:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

4 All things living he doth feed;
his full hand supplies their need:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

5 Let us then, with glad-some mind,
praise the Lord for he is kind:
for his mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

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MEMORISE:
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14

READ: Acts 1:1-18

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

MESSAGE
PRAYERS:
1. Praise the Head of the Church, glorify the One who established the Body of Christ, bless His name, adore His excellency, exalt Him above all things.

2. Father, let Your fire fall and put an end to all forms of Lukewarmness in Your Church.

3. Father, let Your fire fall and consume any agent of the devil, any plant that You have not planted in your Church.

4. Father, You promised us that the gate of hell will not prevail against Your Church; destroy every enemy of the Church today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

5. Father, empower Your Church as in the days of old so that miracles will become commonplace again amongst us.

6. Father, unite Your Church like the Apostles were united at the Upper Room so that we can begin to do the impossible. Remove strife, envy and unhealthy competition in Your Church.

7. Father, let Your Church not be ordinary, let our voice be heard and impact felt all over the world in the mighty name of Jesus.

8. Father, please help every local assembly that needs Your help in one way or the other.

9. Father, raise faithful men who will be sold out to You in this generation, to serve You with all their heart and all their might.

10. Father, every assembly or denomination where there is conflict, please Lord, calm the storm.

11. Father, every group, society or establishment terrorizing Your Church, if they refuse to repent, send Your fire into their midst and let them destroy themselves in the mighty name of Jesus.

12. Pray for your local assembly.

I join my faith with yours and pray that God will grant your request in the mighty name of Jesus.

KEY POINT:

An excellent spirit should be in every Christian because we have the excellent Father living in us.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 28-30

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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20

MEMORISE:

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 1 Timothy 5:6

READ: 2 Timothy 2:3-4

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

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

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

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

MESSAGE

Food and relaxation are good, but if excessive, can be dangerous. If fasting for even one day has become difficult for you, then your flesh is exerting too much control over you. Even in marriage, if you cannot go one week without being intimate with your spouse, then you really need to get yourself under control.

Humans are actually spirit beings; the flesh is just a container that helps us operate in the physical world. Many however have given the container priority over its content- the spirit. The spirit is supposed to be in control of the flesh and not the other way round. What happens mostly however is that, a fellow will look fresh and healthy in the physical, but spiritually, he is weak and dying. The purpose of your flesh is to keep you alive, not to kill you. If you let it dictate to you, it will end up killing you. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Apostle Paul urges us to subdue our flesh.

When I first became born-again and was introduced to fasting, I thought “These people want to kill me!” But I eventually tried it and found it most rewarding. When you decide to start putting your body under control through fasting, it will be difficult at first, in fact, it may feel like you are trying to kill yourself. that is just the flesh battling for the position of authority that it has always enjoy. At that time when it seems really difficult, energize your spirit in prayers. You will discover that during the prayers, your flesh will be suppressed and its voice will be silenced.

I leave you with the words of Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-13:

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”

ACTION POINT:

Stop indulging your flesh; rather subdue it with prayer and fasting.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 23-25

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: I AM THINE O LORD.

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

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MEMORISE:
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. Psalm 102:13

READ: Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

MESSAGE
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1-3

There are two basic instructions in the passage above- Arise and Shine.

‘Arise’ could have different meanings to different people. To the dead, ‘arise’ could mean resurrect, for example, Jarius’ daughter in Mark 5:35-42. From now on, anything dead in your life will arise in the mighty name of Jesus. To someone sleeping, it means awake. If you have been sleeping spiritually, the Lord says ‘Arise!’ To someone who has been stagnant, it could mean ‘move.’ Everything that has been on one spot in your life will arise now in the mighty name of Jesus. To the person already moving, it means ‘increase in speed.’ You may have been struggling to have enough to pay the rent and eat. I command that as from today, struggling is over in your life; you will have more than enough to take care of your basic needs in the mighty name of Jesus.

To one already running, it means ‘fly.’ Those flying have left struggling behind. I decree, from now on, you will fly in every area of your life. To the person who is already flying, ‘arise’ means to move from great heights to greater heights.

I decree that your breakthrough will be a wonder to all those who hear it. You will experience a level of greatness that only a few people have ever experienced in the mighty name of Jesus.

The second instruction in Isaiah 60:1 is to shine. To shine means to show your light. Matthew 5:14-16 says you are the light of the world. God wants you to use your talents for His glory.

Whatever you do, wherever you are and whoever you are, ensure you make an impact to the glory of God. Help those around you, console the broken-hearted, preach the gospel to sinners, heal the sick and raise the dead. It is possible. This is God’s will for you. Arise and shine!

PRAYER POINT:
Lord, let nothing dim my light in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 14-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

READ: Ecclesiastes 5:10-16

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

MESSAGE

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15

Having life abundantly does not refer to material things. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says he who loves silver and gold will never be satisfied and abundance of the riches will not let him sleep. A Christian is not identified by how prosperous he/she is. Although God wants us to prosper financially, it is even as we prosper spiritually (3 John 2). He is more concerned with the prosperity of the soul than material blessing which is an addition. Matthew 6:33 says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be ADDED….” True Christians are known by their fruits of righteousness and holy lifestyle.

A young man came and said he wanted to follow Him. The Lord told him to sell all he had before he could, and he went away sorrowful (Matthew 19:16-24). Many have lost their place in Christ due to the love of wealth. Today, some rich people are depressed because they cannot give up their wealth for Him.

One day, a professor who had just given his life to Christ said to me “Pastor, ever since I became born again, I have just been full of joy, I hope it is not dangerous to be too happy.” I said “That is the joy of the Lord, enjoy it.” He was a successful man, but all the while, he had not experienced joy until he met Christ. He got abundant life.

Abundant life in Him means you can fulfill your destiny. Peter wanted to be a millionaire, but Jesus told him that he would become a fisher of men. In Psalm 23:5, David did not say the table was filled with assorted food, instead anointing that ran over. Abundant life is overflowing anointing.

In God’s presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). This is the promised abundant life- joy like a river. Stay content in Christ so you can have abundant life. Remember, godliness with content is great gain (1Timothy 6:6).

KEY POINT:

Anything that takes you away from Christ has taken life away from you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 8-10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

1. I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
o Refrain:
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2. If I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song through eternity be,
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;
Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!

5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well!
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

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MEMORISE:
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8

READ: Hebrews 12:1-4

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

MESSAGE

Many people are so focused on today they miss out on what is most important- the end. Esau had a bad beginning, but somewhere along the line, he repented. Instead of killing his brother, he hugged him. He became so successful that he had four hundred bodyguards. Levi started with a curse but later became the first born of the Most High God because he choose to be on the Lord’s side. One of the criminals crucified along with Jesus started badly but made it to paradise. Paul the Apostle started as a persecutor of Christians but ended as a great evangelist and Apostle. However, King Saul started well but ended badly. As for me, I will end well. What about you? Your future is in the hands of two people- God and you.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

Since God is unchangeable, righteous, and His word is yea and amen, His part is settled. This means that your future is in your hands. Hence, you can direct it as you wish, positively or negatively. Some have chosen to sell their future like Esau did in Genesis 25:29-34. Today, many have exchanged their future for financial gains. As a sinner, even if you pay tithes and offerings, know that no amount of money can compare with God’s plan for your future. As uncontrolled weakness can also damage the future. Moses compromised his future after forty years of ministry because of uncontrolled temper (Numbers 20:7-13). David brought a curse on himself and his linage because he committed adultery and murder.

However, you can save your future by sowing into it. In 1 Kings 17:8-16, the widow of Zarephath sowed her last meal, then she and her son had enough to eat for the rest of their live. You too can secure your future through absolute obedience to God. As soon as Elijah dropped the mantle on Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21, the latter surrendered all and never looked back. If there is anything you have done in the past that can destroy your future, I break its hold over you now in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

REFLECTION:

What are the measures you are taking towards a glorious future for yourself?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 25: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.

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

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

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

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

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MEMORISE:

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1Samuel 2:3

READ: Acts 5:1-11

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

MESSAGE

It is impossible to deceive God because He knows ALL things, including the thoughts of your heart and the motives behind your actions. In 1 Samuel 15:13-15 for example, King Saul told Samuel that he had already obeyed God’s commandments as regards the Amalekites. However, the later heard the noise of animals. The king lied that they were for God. Why would anyone try to deceive God? In the first place, he should have asked himself if the oxen sound differently for the prophet to which is from Amalek and which is not. He should have known that Samuel was acting based on divine knowledge. You can’t hide anything from God.

Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and never got a chance to repent (Acts 5:1-11). They would not have died if they had simply been honest about how much they sold the land for and how much they kept back. They were not forced to sell; they just wanted to deceive the Holy Spirit and they paid dearly for it. Do not attempt to deceive God.

Many years ago, when the Redeemed Christian Church of God was small, one man joined us and became very active almost immediately. In fact, we thought he was a blessing until God revealed his true identity. I was on a lengthy fast when he came to see me. There and then, God told me he was a spy, operating from the church so he would not be easily found. I confronted him and he tried to cover up. I told him he wouldn’t last beyond the next seven day. Within the week, God had exposed him and he was picked up by the then military government of Nigeria. God cannot be deceived.

Paying less than your tithe is deception to God; it would have been better if you didn’t pay at all. Telling a lie to the marriage counselor in your church that you and your fiancé/ fiancée have not had any sexual relations before marriage is trying to deceive God. As an usher, changing the remittance figure is trying to deceive God. It is dangerous and thus, has grave consequences. Don’t do it!

ACTION POINT:

Is there any area where you have been trying to deceive God? Repent now.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 5-6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: IMMORTAL INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, O Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, your great name we praise!

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Not wanting nor wasting, you rule in your might;
Your justice like mountains high soaring above,
Your clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

All life you engender in great and in small;
To all life befriender, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish in richness and range,
We wither and perish, but you never change.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Your angels adore you, enveiling their sight.
All laud we would render; oh, lead us to see
The light of your splendor, your love’s majesty!

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MEMORISE:
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1

READ: Luke 18:1-18

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

MESSAGE

Persistence is a major mark that sets great achievers apart. While most people give up on their dreams along the way, the persistent keeps going until all goals are accomplished. Jesus Himself said the persistent always get what they want (Luke 18:1-9). It is not enough to pray; do so until something happens.

When others get breakthroughs, before you feel frustrated or jealous, why not take time to know how long they have been trying before they became successful?

During one of the Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp. I waved my hands as I stood on the altar. As I did. Miracles started to happen. It id possible for some Pastors who saw that happen to wonder “Why can’t I also wave and have miracles happen?” but they may not know that before that day, I had been praying for the manifestation for about fifteen year- that miracles should happen just at the wave of my hands. John 16:24 says ask, that your joy may be full. I prayed for fifteen years. That is persistence.

Don’t get tired of hitting hard spot with your drops of water. You may just be at the edge of your breakthrough. Sometimes, it may appear that nothing is happening yet despite the promises of God. The truth however, is that a lot is actually happening on the inside and soon it will manifest in the open. God’s method is:

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:10

God nurtures little things to greatness through a process. Don’t despise your days of little beginnings (Zechariah 4:10); greatness is coming if you persist- in prayers, hard work, sowing seeds, working on your marriage, and in attaining that great height. As long as you are sure you are working in God’s will, persist. You will succeed because determined and focused people always get what they want.

KEY POINT:

Don’t give up, your breakthrough is around the corner.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 3-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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