Devotionals

Memorise: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. Luke 6:38a
Read: Proverbs 11:24-25
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Bible in one year: Micah 5 – 7, John 16:16-33

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

The principle of giving is one of the cardinal principles that God has put in place for the benefit of His children. God wants us to prosper and be wealthy, to the extent that we can afford to lend to nations. However, the measure of God’s liberality to us is determined by our liberality to Him. All of God’s principles are simple and straight forward. This principle we are considering today simply says “Give, and it will be given to you.” In other words, you have to give so as to receive. Unfortunately, as simple as this principle is, many Christians do not apply it, because deep down in their hearts they don’t believe it.
When you sow a seed, you never get back the exact seed you gave out. For example, a farmer who plants a water melon seed will reap multiple water melons with much more seeds in them; all from that single seed. That is the meaning of good measure. God always multiplies whatever you give to Him, and He never owes anyone. He always pays back His debts, and that is why Genesis 8:22 says that seed time and harvest will never cease. If you are faithful to your seed time, you can rest assured that He will be faithful enough to give you your due harvest.
Why do many people sow without receiving in good measure? This might be because they don’t give willingly. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that we must not give grudgingly or as though we are under compulsion. In other words, for us to reap the benefit of our sowing, it must be done willingly from the heart. Our God loves a cheerful giver, and for this reason, aside from the fact that you have to willingly give, you also have to do it joyfully. I was invited to a certain church a while ago, and because I was there, they were calling for all manner of offerings. I was getting annoyed already when they still called for one more offering. Grumbling, I put my hand in my pocket for get money out and I heard God say to me “Keep your money! If you want to grumble while giving Me an offering, then don’t bother.” I quickly changed my attitude before giving the offering. Do you know that if you grumble to give an offering, you are just throwing away your money? That sort of offering is not accepted by God, it is better for you not to give at all.
Correct your attitude to giving from today. Whenever you have the opportunity to give, remember that when you give joyfully, you will also receive in good measure.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

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Key Point: A cheerful giver is a guaranteed receiver.
HYMN 6
A NEW THING
(tune: There shall be showers of blessing)
1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.
Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.
2. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.
3. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten.
4. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.
5. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations
6. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully
7. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousands.
8. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Halleluyah to our King.

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20

Memorise: And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39
Read: Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Bible in one year: Micah 1-4, John 15: 18-16:15

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

1. One of the great titles of our Lord is “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He is the possessor of peace and He has bequeathed this peace to us all. In John 14:27, He said: “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.”
2. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus demonstrated to us that His ability to instill peace was no fluke. After a successful preaching assignment, He told His disciples that they should sail to the other side of the sea in order to continue their assignment there. On their way, a great storm arose on the sea that was about to cause their ship to capsize. Interestingly, the Prince of Peace was in the inner part of the ship, sleeping. Out of fear, the disciples woke Him up, indicting Him for not showing concern about their situation. With the benefit of hindsight you might say, “What a faithless group of disciples these were.” However, if you were to be sincere with yourself, have you not also been in situations that have caused you to indict Jesus in your heart? Nevertheless, Mark 4:39, says: “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
That is our Master for you – compassionate, loving, omniscient and understanding of our frame.
3. After He stilled the storm, He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. Do you also feel that He does not care about you? He is also rebuking you today. I found myself in such a situation some years ago. I thought that I had been forsaken and nobody cared about me. Nevertheless, the Lord sent a little girl to give me a cake like He did for Elijah (1 Kings 19:6).
4. Beloved, Jesus cares. He will not leave you in that situation. As a matter of fact, His peace will overwhelm the current storm in your life and there shall be great calm. This calmness will surpass the rage of storm, and it shall be as though you never experienced a storm in your life.
5. One truth you can learn from this story is that working for God does not make you immune to the storms of life. Jesus and the disciples had just had a successful outreach and there came a storm. As a matter of fact, the storm came because their exploits wreaked havoc on the kingdom of Satan. What worked in favour of the disciples was that the Stiller of Storms was with them. He promised us also that He would be with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
6. Learn from this story that you must always keep Jesus in the boat of your life at all times. Don’t ever undertake a journey or project without His involvement. Moreover, we should outgrow crying like babies in Christ. He has given us authority to still storms ourselves, but not without abiding in Him (Luke 10:19, John 15:4).

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Action Point: Apply your authority in Christ to still every storm raging against you or around you.
Hymn
The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!
Chorus:
Sweetest note in seraph song;
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung:
Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Your many sins are all forgv’n
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
The veil ‘twixt you and God is riven,
Redemption wrought by Jesus.
All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Saviour’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delight to hear
The precious name of Jesus!

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20

Memorise: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8
Read: Matthew 22:8-13, Philippians 3:1-9
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Philippians 3:1-9
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Bible in one year: Obadiah 1, Jonah 1-4, John 15:1-17

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

1. Many people may miss heaven not because their sins were more grievous than the sins of those enjoying eternal bliss with the Father, but because they did not see the grace of Jesus Christ as being sufficient for all that they needed in this world, nor enough to grant them the required right standing with God.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave us a parable to this effect about an arrogant man who was graciously invited by a king to the wedding feast of his son. This man was also offered a wedding garment free of charge to wear to the feast. However, he refused to wear it. While the king was going round to thank those who came to the feast, he discovered this man without his wedding garment. Matthew 22:12 says; “And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.” The king subsequently ordered his arrest, and he was thrown out of the feast. My prayer is that arrogance and faith in your own righteousness will not disqualify you from the marriage feast of the Lamb in Jesus’ Name.
3. Thank God for His grace that qualified Paul to be part of the heritage of the Lord, in spite of all that he did against the early Church. Further down the road in his Christian life and ministry, he still acknowledged that he needed the grace of God to help him make it, due to the circumstances of life that take people away from the narrow path to heaven.
4. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, he wrote; “…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
5. Beloved, let the grace of Jesus Christ be sufficient for you, even in the face of life’s challenges. Don’t allow miserable comforters derail you from reliance on His grace. In Philippians 3:2, Paul warns us to beware of dogs. Such people will advise you to see alternatives to Jesus; please don’t yield to their advice.
6. Don’t compromise your faith, because the grace of Jesus has always been sufficient for all those who believe. May His grace be enough for you until you see Him in glory.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to accept the sufficiency of Your grace for everything I need here and in the life to come.
Hymn
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
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.
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.
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.
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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20

Memorise: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 28:2
Read: Luke 5:1-10
1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Bible in one year: Amos 7-9, John 14:15-31

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

1. To succeed in life, one must know how. Many people are falling today not because they want to, but because they were not taught how to succeed. However, we thank God who has given us the Bible, where we can learn how to succeed. The problem is how many people read and study the Bible, which contains the secrets of success? One of these secrets is found in Deuteronomy 28:2, which says: “All these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.”
2. In Luke 4:4, our Lord Jesus Christ also showed us that the secrets of success are hidden in God’s word. Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, He said: “…it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
3. It is an exercise in futility for a fellow to seek success outside the dictates of God in His word. I am a living testimony of this truth. My success as a PhD student of mathematics was gotten from a Bible passage. An equation that would have made it impossible for me to solve the problem in my thesis was solved with the aid of a passage of scripture. If God’s word can be applied in such scenario, it is grievous for a pastor to attempt using human gimmicks in order to succeed.
4. The secrets of Church growth and growth in other endeavours of life are in the Bible; if only we care to read, study, meditate and act on it.
5. A good example of success through diligent listening and acting on God’s instruction is found in today’s Bible reading. Peter and his colleagues toiled throughout the night, using all their expertise in fishing to no avail. As they were washing their nets and mending them for another night of struggle, Jesus came into the scene. After allowing Him to use their boat, the “Rewarder of those who diligently serve Him” said to Simon Peter in Luke 54b: “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
6. Take note of the words of this instruction. The Lord said to Peter that they should let down their nets not just for some fishes but for a draught, meaning a great catch.
7. Our Lord is not a gamble: He gives precise instructions because He is the Almighty who makes the impossible possible and brings success out of failure. He knew what He was saying when He told Peter to let down his “nets” and not “net”. Beloved, you will succeed if only you listen to what God is telling you to do about that business, project or career.
8. The Lord will teach your hands to war, and you will not be a victim but a success in Jesus’ Name (Psalm 144:1-2).

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, the listening ear, the receptive heart and the grace to do according to your word, give them to me today; and cause me to succeed in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word,
What a glory He shed on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey

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20

Memorise: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
Read: John 15:13-15
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
King James Version (KJV)
Bible in one year: Amos 4 – 6, John 12:31-14:14

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

A very large part of our day to day activities is based on relationships and connections with other people. For example, if you want something done at a bank that involves a lot of processes, you will naturally begin to think of someone you know in that bank that can help you speed things up. Many people maintain friendship with certain people not because they actually like them, but because they know that those people will be useful to them in the future one way or another. There is a popular saying that your network is your net-worth. In other words, with a good network of influential friends, things that are difficult for others to get done will be easy for you. Some people are very powerful not because they hold any position of power of wealth, but because they have friends in high places.
If having friends in high places is very beneficial to attaining your goals, how much more having the Most High as your Friend? Anyone who is friends with God has unlimited power and influence. There is no contract or job that God cannot help you get, there is no position too high for Him to reach, there is no heart too hard for Him to influence in your favour, and there is absolutely no door that He cannot open. Unfortunately, many people who profess to be Christian are actually not friends with God.
Friendship is like fire; if tended properly, that fire will burn for a very long time. No friendship will stay alive if it is not properly and constantly maintained. God wants you to seek Him with your heart and not through activities. Many Christians concentrates so much on religious activities that they stop tending their relationship with God for a very long time, to the point that they have no intimacy with Him. Some would rather be on the pulpit in front of people than be alone with God just communing with Him. No wonder Jesus Christ says that some people who thought they had been working for Him would be turned away like strangers on the last day. Matthew 7:21-23 says:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?”
Further confirming the words of this scripture, today’s memory verse says that only those who do His commandments are His friends. Are you His friend?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’
Key Point:
Jesus Christ is the only friend that really matters

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20

Memorise: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
Read: Ephesians 5:14-17
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Bible in one year: Amos 1–3, John 13:1-30

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

1. For you to be triumphant in warfare, you need to know your adversary well so that you can checkmate his or her every move. 1 Peter 5:8 makes it clear that the devil is our adversary; you would therefore be wise to understand his character and modus operandi in order not to be ensnared by his wily crafts.
2. The devil is a doomed fellow, and he is a slave beneath every true Christian (Matthew 25:41, Ephesians 1:21-23, Ephesians 2:6). Since the day iniquity was found in him, there has not been any good in him at all (Ezekiel 28:15). Having known this, it will be dangerous to assume that the devil is a fool. He is no fool, but rather cunning and with a lot of experience.
3. The devil is very studious and diligent. When he sets a goal, he does everything possible to ensure he meets his target. This is why we have to watch and pray against his moves. We also have to be as gentle as doves, but as wise as serpents. Furthermore, we have to be guarded with our armour always, because our adversary never rests, always going around looking for whom to devour.
4. Now, when does the devil strike? He first studies his target by watching for any weakness in that target. When he finds a weakness, he begins to hit at that weakness, so much so that if the fellow does not brace up and strengthen that weak point, it could trigger his or her fall.
5. This was the case with Moses. When he killed an Egyptian for flogging a Hebrew, the devil noticed that he had a problem with anger. Having discovered this, the devil constantly influenced the Israelites to provoke him, but Moses held on strong until the day when out of anger he struck the rock he was supposed to speak to. Beloved, you cannot afford to be lackadaisical at any time, and neither can you indulge a weakness for the slightest moment, because the devil is working overtime to make you fall. Moses was careless just once, and the result was that he couldn’t enter the Promised Land.
6. Another time the devil strike is after a victory. David experienced this. After he killed Goliath, the devil raised an enemy against him in King Saul. Similarly, immediately after Jesus fed 5,000 men with five loaves of bread and two fishes, the devil tried to use a storm to swallow His boat. It was also after Jesus had finished an impactful 40-day fast that the devil came to tempt Him (Luke 4:1-13). The devil knows that everyone tends to relax and celebrate after a victory, and so he uses that opportunity to strike.
7. Note that the devil attacks by putting something tempting in front of you so that you will constantly see it. He adopts this method because he knows that no matter how strong a rock is, if water keeps dropping on it continually, it will eventually give way.
8. What is that source of temptation the devil is constantly throwing your way? It’s time to get rid of it. May God help you in this regard in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Action Point: Never let your guard down against the devil.
Hymn
Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty power can eer pereval.
Chorus:
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.
Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

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20

Memorise: As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2
Read: Ephesians 4:11-16
Bible in one year: Joel 1 – 3, John 12:27-50

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

Spiritual growth is not an option for all children of God who want to end well and strong. For this reason, the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 2:2 admonishes us to desire the necessary spiritual nutrients that will help us grow. This verse of scripture points to some critical elements that are involved in the journey of spiritual growth. Firstly, spiritual newborn babes must desire the milk of God’s word. Secondly, the midwives that God uses as vessels to birth babies in His kingdom must make the milk of God’s word available to those who are eager to drink it. Thirdly, the milk of God’s word given to spiritual babies must be the sincere type. In other words, it must contain a balanced diet for growth.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2
From the above scripture, we understand that the milk of God’s word that will cause a believer to grow must include reproving of wrongdoing, rebuking the wrongdoer, patiently exhorting young believers to embrace righteousness even in the face of persecution that will definitely come, and teaching sound doctrines. A believer who is not ready to be established in the sound doctrines of the kingdom will soon fall into error and thus make shipwreck of his or her faith. Such are the seeds that fell on stony ground in the Lord’s parable of the sower (Matthew 13:20-21).
Although every Christian needs to have a personal relationship with God, there is a place for every one of us to be impacted by the gifts that the Lord has set in His church. In today’s Bible reading, we are told that one of the reasons why Jesus bestowed ministry gifts upon certain individuals in His Church is for us to grow to the measure of the stature of His fullness (Ephesians 4:13). There is therefore a place for pastors, evangelists, teachers and all other ministry gifts in the spiritual development of all Christians.
Today’s devotional should not be seen as a mere admonition; it should rather be taken as a command from God to grow. To ministers of God: it is obligatory for us to see our spiritual children grow. To babies in the faith: you must desire the sincre milk of God’s word and not the diluted motivational talks of these days which do not guarantee spirutla growth.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’
Prayer Point:
Father, please help me grow in grace to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

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20

Memorise: When thou passet through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2
Read: Daniel 3:20-30
And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was [a]urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his [b]counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the[c] Son of God.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the [d]mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel[e] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
30 Then the king [f]promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Bible in one year: Hosea 10 – 14, John 12:9-26

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

Our memory verse reminds us of God’s promise to be with His children whenever they pass through the storms, rivers and fires of life. We see this promise literary fulfilled in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were confronted with Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. For your own good, you need to understand that these words proclaimed by God in Isaiah 43:2 are not empty promises. To the three Hebrew boys, the Lord who helped the Israelites walk through the waters during their exodus from Egypt was also able to deliver them from the fire of Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace in accordance to His promise. In contrast to these young men, many people today would not want to take this promise of God literally. However, the experience of the three Hebrew boys shows that none of God’s promises will go unfulfilled in our lives if we hold unto them.
Let us consider what the young Hebrew men did to draw the presence of the Fourth Man into the furnace and see how it applies to each one of us. Essentially, they decided to be different and lived a separated life in the land of unbelievers. They took a collective decision with Daniel not to defile themselves with pagan lifestyles and delicacies (Daniel 1:8-17). A proverb in my native tongue says, “There is a tendency for a child to change his good name in a foreign land.” This was not the case with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. For this reason, the Lord of Hosts Himself came to join them when they were thrown into the burning furnace. The Fourth Man in the furnace was no other person than the Son of the Living God (Daniel 3:25).
Beloved, if God could fulfill His promise in Isaiah 43:2 in the lives of these men, He will also fulfill this promise to us. However, you need to ask yourself if you are living a separated life. Is there any difference between you and everyone else who does not know your God? Do you behave one way in church and another way outside church? If someone spends time with you, can they indeed say that you have been with Jesus? You need to live a life that gives a positive answer to these questions. I decree into your life today that the grace to live a separated life will come upon you in Jesus’ Name. The waters of life will not drown you, and the fire of the enemy will not burn you in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

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Prayer Point:
Sweet Holy Spirit, I and the You convict my heart to live a separated life daily.

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Memorise: Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:28
Read: Matthew 23:24-28
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Bible in one year: Hosea 5 – 9, John 11:45-12:8

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

For us not to lose our reward from God, we need to pay close attention to the words He uses when He speaks to us. The words in the above yourself, “ant not” Act as though you love your neighbor as you love yourself.” I have come to observe that the Christian life of many professed Christians has become a stage play. They act out characters that are completely different from who they really are. If God was to show the state of your heart to those you relate with, will they still see you the same way you have always portrayed yourself to be?
God does not recognize humility by how many people you call “sir” or “ma”; He looks into your heart to see if you have a humble heart. He does not recognize love by the sweet words you say; He checks your intentions. God cannot be deceived, and even if you deceive your pastor, my God sees your heart and knows those who are His and those who are not (2 Timothy 2:19). I wonder why a person will try to look holy when looking holy does not count at all before God? Looking holy will not take anyone to heaven, but being holy will. Which is most important to you: how God sees you or how your fellow human beings see you? To me, it does not matter how holy people say I am; I am only interested in what my God says. Sometime ago, at a Christian conference, the organizers asked that soft music be played while we all meditate. While meditating, I went into a trance room of God. All the angels were so pure that they were transparent, and I looked extremely dirty in their midst. When I got out of that trance, I determined that if I was to enter that room again in a trance, I would not look the way I saw myself that day. I was already a holiness preacher by then, and people all around said I was a holy man, but that did not matter to me. All that matters to me now is how Jesus sees me. Stop pretending to be holy; rather, live a holy life for real!
On the other hand, some people dress and act like unbelievers, and then they turn around to say their outward appearance does not matter, because God looks inward. This is true, but what is on the inside will show on the outside. Stop deceiving yourself; if you are just the same them. It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Your outward life needs to reflect the transformation you claim has occurred inside your heart. Is your life reflecting this transformation?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

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Man mostly look inside but God is interested in the inside. Stop pretending to be Holy and live a life of Holiness. Let us learn from this verse But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For[b] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Glory to God for His son Pastor E.A Adeboye for this awesome devotional.
Action Point:
pay attention to how God sees and not what people think of you.
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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Memorise: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 
Read: Joshua 9:1-16, Acts 16:16-18
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
Acts 16:16-18
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Bible in one year: Hosea 1 – 4, John 11:28-44

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

1. There are so many con-artists in the Church and in the world today, so much so that the gift of discernment has become a necessity in the life of every believer.
2. In your business dealings, if you do not want to fall victim to the cankerworm of cheats and frauds, you need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help you exercise discernment over business opportunities that are brought your way.
3. In your job, if you do want to escape from agents of darkness looking for every opportunity to milk their employers dry and implicate innocent people along the way, you need the gift of discernment to begin to operate in your life. The stories narrated in our Bible readings are good life lessons on the need for the gift of discernment. Joshua was hasty in entering into a pact with the Gibeonites without first consulting God, and he ended up falling for a lie; the impact of which continued to affect the Israelites generations after ( 2 Samuel 21:1-9).
4. Be wary of any deal or matter that is brought before you which requires you to make a hasty commitment. Also, at your work place, be careful when a document is brought for your signature and pressure is being applied on you to sign it quickly without thoroughly scrutinizing its contents.
5. In contrast to Joshua who fell for the lies of the Gibeonites, we also read of Paul who was able to detect the spirit of divination at work in the supposed “public relations secretary” who volunteered to serve his missionary team in Thyatira. She followed Paul and his team for several days, publicizing what Paul and his team came to do in that locality. Thank God that Paul, through the gift of discernment, detected after many days that it was demonic spirit at work in her. If this was not found out, many people would have assumed that she was operating with the same spirit as Paul and his team, luring them to follow her and enabling the evil spirit in her to make merchandise of them. This would have brought shame to the Name of Jesus Christ, and the message of the gospel would have been adulterated. This is a great lesson for evangelists and missionaries: volunteers should be handled with caution. Free services may not be free at the end of the day. We have had such experiences in our ministry, where people have come to tell us that there are openings in some countries for missions, only for us to later find out that they were just trying to use the church to realize their dreams of getting out of the country, or even trying to swindle the church of her money.
6. We therefore need the gift of discernment to be able to detect the wily moves of the enemy. This gift is freely given when you thirst and ask God for it in prayer. Ask for it today.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, please endow me with the gift of discernment so that I can always distinguish falsehood from the truth.
Hymn
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,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Though, like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
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,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

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