Devotionals

EUROPE ARISE 2019–Minister Pastor E.A ADEBOYE and other men of God

MEMORISE:

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? Psalm 137:3-4

READ: Judges 16:23-30

23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

MESSAGE

A careful study of the Bible will reveal to you that it is possible for someone that God has librated from all forms of bondage to return into the captivity of the enemy. Sin is the number one instrument the enemy uses to recapture his targets (Romans 6:16). After the children of Israel were set free from oppression in Egypt, they return into captivity in Babylon because they refused to obey God’s commandments, leading to the sad narrative of today’s memory verse. In captivity, the enemy tormented them by requiring them to sing their sacred songs. Every mockery of the enemy comes to an end in your life comes to an end tonight in Jesus’ Name. Samson was another child of God ridiculed by the enemy because he dabbled into sin. After putting out his two eyes, the enemy mocked him and put him on display in the temple of Dagon, the God of the Philistines. They turned the great Samson into a pitiable object of sport and forced him to entertain them with the power he had once used to attack them. Sadly, he died with the enemy in the temple of Dagon.

Just like Samson, some people play with sin, believing that they will have the opportunity to repent, engage in long term fasting and prayer and bounce back on their spiritual feet. Such people should learn from Samson and abandon the assumption this assumption. Judges 16:20 says this of Samson:

“And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”

If you live a life that toys with sin every now and then with the hope of always bouncing back, may I announce to you that there is a journey you may take into sin you may undertake that would be your last. This is the reason why the Bible says we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). There are things people do that are equivalent to singing the sacred song in Satan’s temple. As God’s peculiar people, we must rid the Church of strange practices that conform to the way the world does its things (1 Peter 2:9). We cannot afford to destroy uniqueness in the name of making the gospel appealing to the world. With this in mind, we must beware of singing satanic songs on God’s altar in our bid to win the world. If because we want to catch monkeys we begin to behave like monkeys, we will only end up multiplying the number of monkeys, and the souls we are trying to win to Christ will never partake of the image of God that we have. A word is enough for the wise.

KEY POINT:

Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces (Matthew 7:6 NIV).

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2 : OH JESUS I HAVE PROMISED

1. O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

2. Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

3. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

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MEMORISE:

A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. Proverbs 18:16

READ: Genesis 30:14-18

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

MESSAGE

The Almighty in His wisdom designed the world in such a way that every person has an area of comparative advantage in life. However, it takes wisdom for an individual to make the best legitimate use of his or her comparative advantage to prosper in this world. This is why the Bible says wisdom is the principal thing (Proverb 4:7), the Bible further says in Proverbs 14:1:

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

Leah, the first wife of Jacob, was someone who used what she had wisely in order to succeed in the hostile marriage she found herself in. we can therefore learn a lot from her. Whether by accident or the design of her father, Leah married an unwilling Jacob. However, the Lord in His sovereignty made her very fruitful in the area of child-bearing, and this made up for what she lacked in her husband’s eyes. Being a wise woman, she used this blessing of fruitfulness to her advantage in opposition to Rachel, her sister-turned-rival, who unlike her was attractive and her husband’s favorites. Without this, Rachel would have totally dominated Leah in Jacob’s home.

Leah managed to keep her matrimonial home through wisdom. Unfortunately, many Christian sisters foolishly throw away their marriages to home-breakers and other third parties because they fail to apply wisdom and self-control. Their coldness makes them so detached from their husbands that they end up becoming strangers to one another. Leah was wise and possessed the fruit of longsuffering, which she used to her advantage at every given opportunity to draw her husband closer to herself.

Moreover, take note of what Leah said in Genesis 30:15a:

“And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband?”

In spite of Jacob’s animosity towards her, she believed she was Jacob’s lawful wife, and it paid off for her down the line. Even though her husband did not reciprocate her love, she focused on her home, and she successfully produced more than half of the twelve tribes of Israel, including the priesthood tribe of Levi and the royal tribe of Judah. Today, some Church leaders dissolve marriages with impunity, using social and psychological models to justify their claims against biblical injunctions. This should not be so. What is that challenge facing your marriage? Take it to the Lord today in prayer, asking Him for wisdom to handle it, and you will laugh last. You have the strength not only to cope but also to overcome! Go ahead and use it, and God will give you respite in your home.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, send your peace to all homes that are in disarray in Jesus’ Name.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOME

1. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

4. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

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MEMORISE:

[Charity] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

READ: Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORDappeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

MESSAGE

One thing our world needs now, more than ever before, is love. This is why today; we will be studying love in action, taking a look at Joseph, the husband of Mary. After having been betrothed to Joseph, Mary was chosen by God to be the vessel of honor that He would use to bring the Savior of mankind into the world. She was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and became pregnant out of wedlock. If Joseph did not take responsibility for this pregnancy, a great calamity would have befallen Mary and put the salvation of mankind in jeopardy, because shoe would have been stoned to death as required under Jewish law. Thankfully, Joseph stepped up and covered Mary by marrying her. One lesson we can learn from this incident is that our God is perfect in judgment. He carefully chose a just man to be the husband of His chosen vessel. If Joseph had been a wicked soul, he would have made a public show of what happened to Mary, even though she did nothing wrong. Being a righteous man, he planned to divorce Mary privately to avert the shame and adverse judgment that would have befallen her by Mosaic Law, until he discovered that she was pregnant by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). As a husband, would you excel if tested in the school of love? To avoid a lifetime of agony, Christian ladies should also learn from this story that when choosing a life-partner, he must be a God-fearing man who shares their faith.

“ Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

Some unexpected things happen in marriage to fulfill a divine purpose, and as believers we need to understand that they will always work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Husbands need to learn self discipline from Joseph’s example. Matthew 1:25 says of him:

“25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”

When it comes to sexual intercourse, some husbands cannot hold themselves, even for a day! They terrify and harass their wives into having sex without consent. While it is true that the woman’s body belongs to her husband, the word of God also encourages mutual consent between husband and wife in the area of sexual intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:5). Are you biding by the standard?

KEY POINT:

Have you gone the extra mile to bring joy and gladness to your spouse through the expression of love and understanding?

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOME

1. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

4. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

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MEMORISE:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Corinthians 12:11

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:1-12

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

MESSAGE

One truth all children of God must realize is that we were created to be dependent on one another as members of the body of Christ. In other words, we are an interdependent generation. The failure to recognize this has caused some children of God to live as lone-rangers, and because the environment of accountability is missing from their lives, they ignorantly expose themselves to the devil’s attacks. The Christian faith is founded on fellowship among like-minded people. Painting a picture of what this looks like. Acts 2:46 says:

“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,”

The fellowship that existed in the early Church affords the disciples the opportunity to share not only their physical possessions but also the gifts of the Holy Spirit in them. None of them could claim monopoly of all the gifts. Attesting to this, Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:28

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

The fundamental truth is that we need each other to finish well in the Church race. Therefore, no one should claim superiority over another. An apostle is not more important than a teacher. Moreover, the Holy Spirit indicates that these ministry offices are gifts meant for the perfecting of the saints. Speaking in Ephesians 4:11-12, He says:

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Knowing therefore that we are interdependent, we must relate with one another as indispensable allies in the journey of faith. There should be no schism in the Body of Christ; rather, each member of the Body should take the responsibility of caring for other members as top priority. A lack of this understanding can make a prophet, for example, to think that he or she is superior to an evangelist or other ministry gifts in the Body of Christ, and lord himself or herself over them. We also see cases where some, such as teachers in the Body of Christ, suffer an inferiority complex, leading to rebellion against the government of the Church to their own spiritual peril. Don’t feel offended or sidelined if you are posted to a ministry that is not visible, such as prayer. Several people with the gift of prayer have lost everything in the course of struggling to be out there. May the Lord grant you understanding of your calling in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please reveal my calling to me today and help me to be content with it. Also grant me grace to use my spiritual gifts for the perfecting of Your saints in Jesus’ Name.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.

1.While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

Refrain

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain

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MEMORISE:Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

READ: Isaiah 54:14-17

14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

MESSAGE

When you look at the situation of many people in the world today, one is prone to forget that God did not create man to be a victim of circumstance. According to the eternal word of God which is true, man was actually created to be master over circumstances (Genesis 1:26-30). What then is responsible for the sorry state mankind is in today? Well, when man yielded to sin through disobedience, sin suppressed him, placed him under the control of circumstances. However, the good news is that over two thousand years ago, this situation was reversed by Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, and all who are willing to tap into God’s provision for escape through Him can once again become masters over all circumstances today. Today’s Bible reading makes it clear that ruling over circumstances is our heritage as children of God. Understanding the truths in these scripture verses holds some keys of living above circumstances indeed. The first truth is that sin attacked the righteousness that man inherited from the One whose image he carried, and so he became subject to circumstances. Secondly, only when walking in the righteousness that emanates from God can anyone be established and put in charge of all circumstances. It’s from this reason that the eternal word of God says in Proverb 14:34:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Sin enslaves but righteousness librates. The story was told of two domestic workers named John and Moses. One day, john killed one of his maser’s ducks by accident. Though he buried it to cover up his mistake, Moses knew about it. Consequently, Moses began to torment John because of his sin and blackmailed him to do the chores meant for both of them. Eventually, the burden became unbearable for John. Unknown to Moses, John decided to confess his sin to his master, which he did. To his great surprise, his master forgave him and counseled him to be careful whenever he was taking care of the rest of the ducks. Moses woke up the following day thinking it was business as usual, not knowing that John had been set free. When Moses threatened to report John to their master about the slain duck, John told him that he had confessed it already and had been forgiven. Many people are under the bondage and condemnation of the devil today because they are still trying to cover their sins. The only way to be free is to acknowledge your sins, confess them and accept the righteousness that has been made available for you through Jesus Christ (Roman 10:3). The Bible says that we shall be established through the righteousness that Jesus Christ bestows upon us, and no weapon formed against us shall prosper. What a blessed assurance! Turn to God today through Jesus Christ our Lord, and you will become a master over all circumstances.

ACTION POINT:

Using today’s memory verse, bring every circumstance surrounding your life under subjection to the will of God for you through the Name of Jesus.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Refrain

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MEMORISE:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

READ: Psalm 1:1-6

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 4-6
Isaiah 63:1-14

MESSAGE

One of the ways of attracting divine blessings is to stay away from the counsel of the wicked. According to Psalm 1:4&6, doing this also saves one from partaking in the judgment that God delivers on the wicked. Who is a wicked person? When you look through the lens of God’s word, you will discover that there are wicked people hiding in plain sight amongst us. For example, a wicked fellow is someone who takes advantage of the trust given to him to hurt another person, Joseph was put in a position of trust, but he did not take advantage of it because he did not want to be wicked. When his master’s wanted to lure him into sexual immorality, he said in Genesis 39:9:

“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Even before the Law of Moses was given in Exodus 20:14, Joseph refrained himself from committing this grave sin because he had the law of God written in his heart, which says:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Joseph regarded sleeping with his master’s wife as wickedness, so he did not do it. For this reason, I strongly believe that Joseph will stand in judgment against those who break the written law of God on marriage fidelity with impurity, claiming that the word of God is ambiguous on it.

Another category of the wicked includes those who despise the good works of others and render them insignificant. When you posted to a new office and you refuse to see the good work your predecessor did, or worse still, you try as much as possible to erase the history of his or her stewardship, you are wicked. In spite of what king Saul did to him, David did not act this way. When King Saul died, David said in 2 Samuel 1:24:

“Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.”

Walking in the counsel of the wicked can have grave and everlasting consequences. An example of the impact of ungodly counsel is found in the story of Amnon and his lust for his half-sister, Tamar. Amnon was caught in Jonadad’s wicked counsel, and he died for it (2 Samuel 13:1-29). Beloved, irrespective of who the source is run for your dear life when given ungodly counsel. May you never fall prey to the counsel of the ungodly in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Examine the company you keep, even in church. If you find any form of ungodliness prevalent anywhere, separate yourself from it.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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MEMORISE:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5

READ: Hebrews 2:9-3:1

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

 

MESSAGE

Yesterday, we started considering the all important topic of focusing our attention on Jesus Christ, and we saw some of the reasons why we need to fix our eyes on Him while we journey through the wilderness of this world. Today, we shall be reflecting on some of the benefits of looking unto Jesus.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

One of the reasons why our Lord took on the form of man was to lay down a pattern of life that would always serve as a perfect example for us to look up to. Although He experienced everything we go through as humans, He triumphed over all. Following His example will therefore cause us to triumph over every trial and temptation we will face in the world. He is the only human figure we can completely pattern our lives after and still live acceptable before the Almighty Father. One virtue of His that we must definitely follow is the virtue of endurance in the face of trials and temptations. The Holy Spirit counsels us to practice this virtue in order to avoid experiencing wariness in our soul and spirit. Speaking in Hebrews 12:3, He said:

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

When we are focused on living as Christ lived, we would not be deterred by what the ungodly do to us. Our Lord says to us in John 15:18-19:

“ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

Don’t be discouraged when your boss maltreats you because you refuse to sleep with him based on your Christian conviction, or when your colleagues hate you because you refuse to go along with their plan to steal from the company. You have already been forewarned of their hostility by the Master, who Himself also endured the “contradiction of sinner”. Lastly, we must focus on Jesus because He is our role model in leadership, giving and love. He established His leadership by serving us, and He gave us His very best by laying down His life as a ransom for our salvation (John 10:10-18). As you begin to focus your gaze upon Jesus from today, I pray that God will help you in Jesus’ Name.

KEY POINT:

We are commanded to look up to Jesus and not to any other person or institution.

WRITTEN BY  PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN

1. O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

2. Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

3. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

4. O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

5. Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.

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MEMORISE:

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10

READ: Proverbs 6:4-11

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

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

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

MESSAGE

Laziness can be defines as the attitude of being unwilling to work or dissipate energy in the pursuit of a goal. It can also be viewed as an attribute of a idle, slow or sluggish person. The Bible describes some characteristics of a lazy person which are important for us to consider today. As revealed in Proverbs 6:9, the first notable characteristic of a lazy person is the love for sleep. Lazy people find it convenient to spend the better part of the day sleeping, and when they finally get out of bed, they do as little work as possible. Proverbs 6:10-11 cites excessive sleep as the source of a lazy man’s poverty, saying:

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

Lazy people generally lack initiative. They won’t do any work unless they are forced, and they can’t work without supervision. For such people, when their supervisor is away, they resume late at work and leave before the normal closing hours. They always work at the minimum level, and have mastered the art of making excuses to avoid work. Whenever you question lazy people about their work ethics, they usually have must to offer in the form of excuses. Lazy people are more often than not out in search of easy money. They hope to get rich with minimal effort, and so they are constantly seeking for ways to circumvent God’s way of making money through diligence and hard work. Lazy people are dreamers who nurse hopes of bailout by Government, family or friends, even before starting any venture.

A lazy person is highly destructive by nature. He is a waster and a poor manager of materials, financial and human resources. A lazy person usually ends up destroying precious things such as time, income, opportunities, marriage and family relationships. Because of this, lazy people are bound to suffer many regrets later in life. They will be forced to think of their unfulfilled ambitions, wasted opportunities and unsatisfied desires. They will crave things that they no longer have the means of getting. A lazy man usually ends up being ridiculed in his family and disgraced in the community. God disciplines lazy people by allowing them to experience the consequences of their foolishness, with the hope that they will learn wisdom through their poverty. These are just a few of the severe consequences reserved for lazy people. May the Lord deliver the body of Christ and our nation from idleness and laziness in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Examine yourself to see if you possess any of the attributes of a lazy person and quickly adjust your life.

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.

1.While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

Refrain

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

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MEMORISE:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
READ: Hebrews 11:24-26
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 15-16, Isaiah 22:5-25
MESSAGE

At a point in a person’s life, he or she must defer gratification in order to succeed in this world and in the hereafter. This truth must sink into the heart of every Christian, especially the younger generation. It is unfortunate that more often than not, people do not see the need to defer gratification. They want to enjoy everything right now! Unfortunately, life is not utopian in nature. The reality is that there is no gain without pain. Even our salvation which some people erroneously describe as “free” was paid for by the Saviour. He agonised on the cross to procure our liberty. Whether in the temporal or eternal realm, gratification requires deferment.
Daniel stands as a great example of someone who deferred gratification. His act of sacrifice as a young fellow upholding God’s covenant is recorded on Daniel 1:8:
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
The moment Daniel and his brethren matriculated into the University of Babylon, caterers were assigned to feed them with all sorts of delicacies, including the royal wine, but Daniel deferred these fringe benefits in order to excel. No wonder, Daniel eventually enjoyed the largesse of occupying a high office after he and his colleagues graduated and became ministers in the king’s cabinet. This is the reward of deferring pleasure. Unfortunately, some children of God refuse to postpone enjoyment in the present world for eternal bliss in the world to come. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says:
“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.”
Even our Lord Jesus Christ deferred the pleasure of food and chose to suffer hunger when the devil told Him to turn stone into bread (Luke 4:1-4). This was what Esau could not do, and he sold his birthright for a meal (Genesis 25:29-34). Beloved, for you to make it to heaven, you need to forgo certain things that may not necessarily be sinful but may constitute a hindrance to your spiritual growth and cause you to be vulnerable to sin and its enticing allurements. For this reason, 1 Corinthians 6:12 says:
“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.”
Learn to be like Apostle Paul who considered as being worthless those things which should have been valuable to him, so that he could attain the high calling of God (Philippians 3:7-8).

ACTION POINT:
Consider those things you are doing or using which can serve as impediments to your Christian calling and do away with them.
HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
3. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.
4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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MEMORISE: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:10
READ: John 14:6-14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 14, Isaiah 21:1-22:4
MESSAGE

Reading the words of today’s Bible text should be an awe-inspiring for any believer. Just as a father on his deathbed would share deep secrets with his children, Christ’s declaration about Himself came to His disciples at the very end of His assignment here on earth (John 13:1). He knew that His disciples had a limited understanding of who He really was, and so He chose that moment to reveal Himself to them fully. His divinity, His humanity, the reason why He came, His relationship with the Father, His destination, power and status thereafter are all revealed to us in this scripture. It is a privilege to have a revelation of who Jesus really is. To enjoy the fullness of the divine nature you possess as a Christian and to finish your race here on earth in flying colours, you need to have an intimate and personal relationship with the Master. However, you cannot have an intimate and personal relationship with the Lord without first having received a revelation of His person in your spirit. Apostle Paul was unique as a Christian because his knowledge of the Lord was based on divine revelation of His person. In Galatians 1:11-12, he wrote:
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
While it is good for you to be taught about the Lord, you cannot know Him intimately unless you receive a personal revelation of His person in your spirit. This is so important to make you genuinely grounded as a Christian. For this reason, Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the fledgling Christians at Ephesus in Ephesians 1:16-17:
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples because they had proven their love for Him by accepting His call and walking with Him while He was here on earth. Today, it is those who show their love for Him by spending time with Him in the place of worship and meditating on His word that He will reveal Himself to (John 14:23). Beloved, do you really know Jesus Christ? Have you caught a revelation of who He is in your spirit? Who is He to you? Is He a prophet, a great teacher, a miracle worker, great healer, your saviour from sin and the gateway to heaven? Jesus Christ is all of these and even much more, but above all, He is the Son of the Living God and the Saviour of mankind. Seek to know Him from today. Show your love for Him by spending time with Him, and He will give you a personal revelation of who He really is.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus.
HYMN
1 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2 Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3 Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4 Deeper, higher, ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
5 Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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