Devotionals

MEMORISE: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8
READ: Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 12-13, Isaiah 19:16-20:6
MESSAGE

For you to truly appreciate what grace is, you need to see it as the love of God clouded in mystery. Throughout the Bible, those who encountered God’s grace were blessed and favoured, and they could hardly explain what justified the favour they received. One of those who enjoyed God’s grace declared in 1 Chronicles 17:16b:
“Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?”
The good news is that God’s grace is made abundantly available to all those who desire to be saved and blessed today. Titus 2:11-12 says:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
God’s grace is embodied in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To access this grace, you must accept Christ as “God manifested in flesh”, and believe in the sufficiency of His finished work at Calvary to wash away your past and give you a bright new future. Doing so will open the door for you to escape the imminent judgement that will be poured out on this sinful world, just as Noah escaped the flood that brought God’s judgement on the people of his time. The secret to Noah’s salvation from the great deluge is revealed to us in Genesis 6:7-8 as God’s grace:
“And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
God’s grace for salvation through Christ is such a difficult concept for religious people to comprehend. They fail to understand it because they think the basis of divine acceptance is their own personal efforts. The truth is simply this: salvation is by grace, and this grace is available only through Christ. Are you a religious person reading this devotional out of curiosity? You will be mightily and eternally blessed if you embrace the grace of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Nevertheless, we must keep in mind that grace does not indulge the beneficiary in sin or lawlessness; rather, it gives spiritual power to help us live according to the acceptable standards of our holy God. You can only live acceptably before God through grace. Through this same grace, you will receive help to do God’s will, and when you close your eyes in death, you will safely arrive in the bliss of heaven. Are you a partaker of God’s grace?

ACTION POINT:
Stop struggling with your sins today. Hand them over to Jesus who will give you the grace to live above them
HYMN
1 Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
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?
Chorus:
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 Saviour’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?
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?
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.

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MEMORISE:The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
READ: Matthew 10:28-33
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 10-11, Isaiah 18:1-19:15
MESSAGE

There is a trait that God hates so much but many people don’t pay attention to, despite the many examples in the Bible that should deter them from it. This negative trait manifests itself in the form of trying to please men at the expense of loyalty to the Almighty God. Doing this arouses divine jealousy, and when we provoke God to jealously, the result can be devastating. When we choose to please men instead of God Almighty, we have made men our gods, and this is contrary to the commandment against idolatry in Exodus 20:3. It is unfortunate that many people do not know this. Some people try to please men because of the fear of what they can do to them. It should not be so with us believers. Our Lord warns us not to be afraid of men who can only kill the body; rather, we should fear the One who can destroy both the body and soul in hell.
An example of a man who was a “men pleaser” is King Saul. He bungled his throne because of the fear of men. When he was confronted with his blatant disobedience to the Lord’s instructions, he himself admitted in 1 Samuel 15:24:
“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”
On the other hand, the three young Hebrew men in Daniel 3:14-26 chose to please God, even in the face of a burning furnace. Although they were furiously thrown into the fire, the fire could not hurt them because the Son of the Living God was already waiting for them (Daniel 3:25). One thing we can learn from their experience is that even though they got into the fire, their salvation was already waiting for them in there. We must also learn to endure to the end because our ultimate salvation is reserved for us if we stay focused on God. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Many people practically deny Jesus Christ for different reasons: persecution, fear of ridicule, and for some, because of what they will eat, drink or wear. For these reasons, some ladies cannot resist illicit sexual advances, while some men kill for money. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus said:
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
If you therefore desire a glorious future in heaven, you need to take a stand for Jesus, no matter what you may be going through.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to stand for You, come what may.
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: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2
READ: Matthew 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
MESSAGE

The prayer outlined in today’s Bible text, popularly called “The Lord’s Prayer”, is of great value to us as believers. Through it, our Lord Jesus Christ introduced God to us as our Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9). In so doing, He used the known to teach us about the unknown. Everyone is familiar with the relationship that exists between a father and his child. Our Lord used this prayer to open our eyes to the nature of relationship that exists between God and us after we become born again. I came to understand this truth when I gave my life to Christ. I therefore began to call my Heavenly Father “Daddy”, because I knew He surpasses all earthly fathers. This same sentiment is present in the writings of John the Beloved. Carefully meditate on what he wrote in 1 John 3:1-2:
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
It is indeed amazing to be called children of God. If you are wondering how a mortal being can become a child of the Immortal and Eternal God, I refer you to John 1:11-12, which says:
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
Jesus Christ revealed the secret behind this mystery to Nicodemus in John 3:5-6, where He said: “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
God is Spirit, and once you are born of the Spirit by giving your life to Christ, you become a child of the Spirit and a spiritual being. Having received this endowment, there is an obligation that follows it. 1 John 3:3 tells us what this obligation is:“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Purity makes us resemble our Heavenly Father, and it is a compulsory virtue for us to manifest. The good news is that when you are empowered by God to become His child, He also implants His seed into you to enable you live like Him in this wicked world. The Holy Spirit tells us in 1 John 3:9:“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
A glorious transformation occurs in us when we become born again! Believe in this transformation and determine to exhibit its character by faith.

ACTION POINT:
Outline the transformation that occurs in a life that is born again and weigh yourself against it. Apply your faith to areas where you are not yet manifesting who you really are.
HYMN
1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
2. In Christ alone! Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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MEMORISE:
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:8
READ: 1 Timothy 6:6-10
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 7-8, Isaiah 15:1-16:11
MESSAGE

Contrary to common belief, satisfaction in life is not a matter of how much you have. Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Luke 12:15:“…Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
In other words, abundant possessions do not guarantee joy, peace and fulfilment in life. The Lord is asking you today, “Are you divinely satisfied? What is your satisfaction in life dependent on?” The reason why a lot of people are never satisfied in life is due to the lack of contentment. In today’s memory verse, the Holy Spirit instructs us to be content with having food and clothing. This is a command and not a piece of advice. To measure up to this heavenly standard, we must endeavour to discover what true blessing is and the source of it. Concerning true blessing, Proverbs 10:22 says:“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
True blessings from the Lord have three characteristics: they bring riches in all ramifications, they are devoid of sorrow and are accompanied with contentment.
Irrespective of what a man has, if he is not content, he will restlessly pursue satisfaction throughout his life time. The Almighty God, in whose image we were created, is a great example to us on contentment. Genesis 1:31-2:22 says:
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
From the scripture above, we learn that God saw everything that He had made as being very good. In other words, God was content with what He had achieved in six days. This divine satisfaction made Him take a rest on the seventh day! We know that God continued His work after He rested on the seventh day because Jesus Christ said in John 5:17b:
“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
The secret behind God resting on the seventh day even though He still had more work to do is not far-fetched: God was content with His achievements. This is why the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:6:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
This verse shows that one may be godly but not have contentment. Beloved, when we become obsessed with work because we want to acquire more wealth to the detriment of our worship of God and even to the point of harming our body system, then we have fallen into the snare of the devil described in 1 Timothy 6:9. Are you divinely satisfied?

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please grant me the grace to live a life of godliness with contentment.
HYMN
1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
3 His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
4 When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

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MEMORISE: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Galatians 5:14
READ: Luke 6:27-35
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 5-6, Isaiah 14:12-32
MESSAGE

There are some basic truths that all heaven-bound Christian pilgrims must embrace for total freedom from the devil and his lies. One of these truths is that God’s commandments are eternally relevant and cannot be broken without consequences. Our first parents disobeyed God and the consequence was that their perfect life was destroyed, and the cordial relationship they had with the Lover of their souls was broken. Little did they know that the commandment God gave them was for their own good. Heaven is not devoid of divine law! The will of God is the law of heaven. No wonder our Lord taught us to pray this in Matthew 6:10:
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
The reason why the beings in heaven do not just do what pleases them is because divine law and order reigns in heaven. Psalm 103:20-21 says:
“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”
It is therefore a misplaced understanding of grace for any Christian to think that once a fellow is saved, there is no obligation to obey any form of commandments because there is no law to keep. In fact, as Christians, we are under the law of Christ and this law is administered through the Spirit of Lordship (one of the seven dimensions of the Holy Spirit), who lives in us (1 Corinthians 9:21, Romans 8:2, Isaiah 11:2).
What then is the law of Christ? The Master Himself sums it up, saying in Matthew 22:37-40:
“…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
To fulfill the law of Christ is to walk in love. The Holy Spirit spells this out clearly in Galatians 6:2, saying:
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Our Lord also spells out what it means to walk in love in today’s Bible reading, teaching us what love in action really looks like. You cannot claim to be walking in love when you steal, sleep with your neighbour’s spouse, defile your neighbour’s daughter or go to the extent of killing other people. Love will not allow you to do so. This love was first demonstrated by Jesus Christ Himself and He is willing to impart it into those who would accept Him as their personal Lord and Saviour. Are you fulfilling the law of Christ?

PRAYER POINT:
Father, let Your love be shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit.
HYMN
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.
Chorus:
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?
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:In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:13
READ: Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
MESSAGE

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11
To remain in tune with Jesus Christ requires the help of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. You need His help because He is the only one who can grant you access to the thoughts and workings of the Lord at any point in time. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said to us:
“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.”
We see from these words of the Master that the Christian life is only empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so it amazes me when any Christian organisation refuses to embrace the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit. The truth is that you cannot be a lasting Christian without experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, neither can you effectively do the work of the ministry without this experience. This is why Jesus instructed the early disciples to wait for the promise of the Father before proceeding to evangelise the world (Acts 1:4-5).
There are some points about the Holy Spirit that are worthy of note in today’s memory verse. One of these is that salvation comes before baptism in the Holy Spirit. Although these two experiences may follow each other almost immediately, you cannot be baptised in the Holy Spirit if you are not first born again by accepting the gospel of truth and salvation. The benefits of being baptised in the Holy Spirit are numerous, one of which is that your salvation is sealed to the end, provided you do not grieve the Holy Spirit to the extent of Him leaving you alone (Ephesians 4:30). Another benefit is the renewing of your body, soul and spirit by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11, Titus 3:5). As we journey through life, a lot of issues confront us daily, discouraging, nauseating or even defiling us. It is a blessing to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, who renews and encourages us to forge ahead. Beloved, have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit? If not, you can be baptised right now as you read this. All you need to do is ask the Lord to baptise you with His Holy Spirit and believe that He will. Regardless of whether your church believes this truth or not, because it is the word of God, it will become reality in your life today if you receive it.

ACTION POINT:
If you have not been baptised in the Holy Spirit, ask Jesus to baptise you today. If you have experienced this, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you anew right now.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 3-4, Isaiah 13:17-14:11
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 11: WHEN THE POWER OF GOD DESCENDED
1 When the power of God descended
On the day of Pentecost
All the days of waiting ended
They received the Holy Ghost.
Chorus:
O Lord, send the power just now;
O Lord, send the power just now;
O Lord, send the power just now;
And baptize, every one.
2 Tongues of flame came down upon them,
And they preached the world in power,
Listening multitudes awakened
Turned to God that very hour.
3 We are waiting, Holy Spirit
We are all of one accord
Lord fulfil just now the promise
That is given in thy word.
4 Fill and thrill us with thy presence,
Grant the blessing that we need
Flood our souls with wondrous glory,
While the prayer of faith we plead.

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MEMORISE: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4
READ: John 15:1-7
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 1-2, Isaiah 13:1-16
MESSAGE

Having received reassurance from the Lord yesterday that we are not alone, we need to reflect on what we need to do to remain connected to Him always. Every child of God must be conscious of the fact that God’s righteousness means He will never renege on His word. His promises such as those in Deuteronomy 31:8 and Matthew 28:20 are sacrosanct. However, there is a possibility of us abandoning God when we are carried away by the lustful desires of this life. An example of someone who deserted God was Demas. Concerning him, in 2 Timothy 4:10, it is written:
“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…”
It is unfortunate that some preachers teach eternal security, saying that once saved, you are always saved. This is a lie of the devil because examples abound of people who abandoned their first love for God or even abandoned God entirely. Judas Iscariot was once numbered among the twelve but he fell away (Acts 1:16-20). The question then is, if Judas who was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Himself could fall away, who then cannot? We therefore need to be watchful to keep our place in Christ. As seen in today’s memory verse, it is our responsibility to stay connected to Jesus.
Our Bible reading today reveals the danger of not staying connected to Jesus Christ. Anyone who for any reason at all disconnects himself from the Lord will dry up spiritually, and this will affect all other areas of life because the spiritual controls the physical. However, when we stay connected to Jesus, there are bundles of blessings awaiting us. How do we stay connected to Jesus, and want blessings can we derive from doing so? The Lord answers these questions in John 15:7 saying:
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
We stay connected to Jesus by abiding in His word. This means modelling our lives to the dictates and principles of His word. You need to back up your every thought and action with His word. Fruitfulness is the portion of those who stay connected to Jesus. In other words, goodness and mercy will be partners of such people. Staying connected to Jesus requires walking intimately with Him. When you do this, His blessing in John 14:27 will be your portion to enjoy. It says:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

PRAYER POINT:
Holy Spirit Divine, please help me to remain ever in tune with my Master, Jesus, for unbroken partnership.
HYMN
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: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20
READ: John 16:5-13
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 27-28, Isaiah 11:6-12:6

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

One comforting assurance we have from our Lord Jesus Christ is that we are not alone. The devil wants you to feel you are alone and abandoned, but it is a lie. In today’s Bible reading, we are reassured that even though the Master has gone away to be with His Father, He did not leave us without a Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit includes reproof concerning sin, encouragement into a life of righteousness and giving sound judgement in difficult situations. He is to guide us into all truth, which includes the truth that we are not alone, neither can we be deserted or abandoned. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ in our lives by doing what only Christ can do in and through us. There are things that Jesus Christ commanded us to do that are impossible to execute except we are divinely aided, such as the command in Matthew 5:11-12 to rejoice when we are persecuted. The Holy Spirit helps us with this and much more.
Sometimes, you may experience some situations which the devil may capitalise on to malign our loving Master as having abandoned you, but it is not true. I have also experienced this. Many years ago, the devil came to tell me that I was abandoned and not appreciated, but God proved him wrong when a little girl came from several kilometers away to give me a cake as appreciation for what God was doing with my life. After receiving that cake, I forgot all the feelings of abandonment. Another time, I was travelling somewhere and the aircraft got into a very turbulent weather. There was so much commotion in the plane, to the extent that many people abandoned their complimentary meals for fear of a possible crash. In the meantime, my Daddy spoke with me, telling me to keep calm because He was in the plane and it was impossible for a plane He was travelling in to crash. Immediately I heard this, I relaxed and settled down with my meal. When I was done, I asked the rich man who was seated beside me if he would not mind me having his meal. He obliged, all the while looking at me strangely and wondering if I had heard and understood the announcement made by the pilot of a possible emergency landing! He passed his tray to me and I settled down again to enjoy the meal. I had hardly finished when the announcer came back on air to tell us that the turbulence was over. Glory be to God!
Beloved, always remember that one of the names of Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). You have no reason to feel abandoned or neglected if Jesus Christ is your Master and Lord.

KEY POINT:
Stay with Christ so that He can stay with you. He will not abandon you unless you turn your back on Him.
HYMN
1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
2. In Christ alone! Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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MEMORISE:Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:1 Timothy 1:5
READ: Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:Matthew 26, Isaiah 10:20-11:5

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:26-27
There are many lessons we can learn from this scripture, first of which is that if man was created in God’s image, and we know that God is pure, it then follows that man was created to be pure. Secondly, man was created to have dominion over all other elements of God’s creation on earth. This means that the earth and its creatures have no capacity to corrupt the purity in man if man does not allow it. In other words, it is a lie for the devil to suggest that God’s creation can bring forth corruption. Only in the case of abuse can this be possible. Abuse refers to the abnormal use of a thing. A lack of knowledge of the purpose of a thing makes one to use it abnormally. For example, it is the abnormal use of wealth and knowledge that makes people recreate the body parts God has blessed them with. Some people even go to the extent of plucking out their teeth, replacing them with precious metal or gems! This is wrong use of their bodies and precious resources. The abuse of God’s creations, which are meant for His glory, has led to the corruption of mankind. This is the reason why God is admonishing us in today’s Bible text to be moderate in our use of all things.
We need to be sincere with ourselves when answering some pertinent questions concerning the characteristic traits of the end-times. As a Christian, is your moderation not becoming questionable, even to unbelievers? Do you still have the consciousness of the Lord’s imminent return? It is doubtful a lot of Christians still have this consciousness in them because a look at their lifestyle tells you that they are no longer thinking of those things that are pure. The Holy Spirit is reminding us in today’s memory verse that the end of God’s commandment is love out of a pure heart. Manifesting God’s type of love will keep us as pure as light. May God help us to live the way He created us to live before the fall in Jesus’ Name. The good news is that the second Adam, Jesus Christ, has made this possible through His atoning work on the Cross (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Hallelujah!

ACTION POINT:
If you are not living a pure life, surrender your life to Jesus Christ today so that He can change your impurity to purity through His Blood.
HYMN
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.
Chorus:
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?
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: Also I say unto you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: Luke 12:8
Read: Matthew 19:27-29 (KJV)
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Bible in one year: Matthew 24-25, Isaiah 10:5-19

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

Unless we want to engage in self-deceit, carrying one’s cross to follow Christ is very costly. We thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ did not hide the truth about this from us. As part of His Sermon on the Mount, He said in Matthew 5:10-11: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
Furthermore, in today’s memory verse, He puts us on notice that it is possible for a person to deny Him in the face of persecution. He also said that whoever identifies with Him in this wicked generation is the fellow He would identify with in the Kingdom of God. Hearing Him say these words, Peter asked Jesus what the reward will be for those who sacrifice all to follow Him. It is interesting to read Christ’s response in Matthew 19:28: “…Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
One grave lesson to learn from the scripture is that Judas Iscariot was numbered among the twelve destined to sit on one of the twelve thrones, but unfortunately he did not end well. I pray that you will finish well in Jesus’ Name. Another lesson is that Jesus Christ did not assure the disciples of gains only in the distant future of the afterlife. In Mark 10:30, He also said: “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
If you are ever in doubt as to what the Lord Jesus Christ promised in this scripture verse, just try and read the story of my life. I am a living testimony of God’s faithfulness to His word. At a time in my ministry, my wife and I had to sell our cars in order to fund the preaching of the gospel. Today, you will not believe the number of cars the Lord has blessed us with. In fact, there was a time we received so many cars as gifts that we had to redistribute them to our pastors who were in need of cars to do the work of the ministry. At a point in my life, I have had to give up a big house to live in a servants’ quarters for the sake of the gospel, but a time came when I started rejecting houses being donated to me. Beloved, I can assure you that there is abundant gain in the pains endured for Christ’s sake. What is that pain you are currently experiencing for the sake of the gospel? The good news is that it has its expiry date; Jesus will recompense you beyond your wildest imagination here and hereafter.

Prayer Point
Father, grant me the grace to endure the necessary pain for the sake of the gospel and Your gospel and Your Kingdom, and please don’t let me miss out on the gains You have in store for me.
Hymn:
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour 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 Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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