Devotionals

Memorise: Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Isaiah 35:3
Read: Matthew 25:34-46
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer [a]Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Bible in one year: Psalm 88 – 91, Matthew 27:15-44

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

1. Weakness can be such a terrible thing.
2. A person who is weak is helpless and sometimes even hopeless.
3. People can be weak in several ways; some are weak financially, emotionally, spiritually, academically, and so on.
4. People who are weak are not in a state where they can protect or defend themselves.
5. This is why anyone who oppresses the weak is a coward and a bully.
6. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, who Himself was a help to the helpless, if a person is financially weak, you should not use that opportunity to cheat him or her.
7. It is disheartening that some employers look for desperate people to employ so that they can pay them far less than the regular applicable wages.
8. Some other people constantly search for people in financial crisis so that they can buy off their properties very cheaply. Are you playing with the emotions of the opposite sex because they are emotionally weak? Do you condemn people because they are not as strong as you are spiritually? You need to have a change of heart today.
9. Believe me honestly, there is no seed sown that will not be reaped. There was a man who was very good at treating people who had broken bones. Whenever someone with a broken bone was rushed to him, because of their desperation, he would charge their family members an extremely high price that would be very difficult to pay. If they complained about the cost, he would get a cutlass and suggest to them that if they couldn’t afford his charges, he could amputate the victim’s broken limb at a cheaper price. Not desiring the amputation of a member of their family, they would agree to his exorbitant price and pay. Through these means, this man eventually became very rich and had many houses. Down the line, he fell sick and had to spend so much money diagnosing the cause of his ailment. Before long he started selling his houses in order to afford his medical bills, but the doctors still could not tell what was wrong with him. After he sold his last house, it was discovered that he had cancer, but by this time, it was already too late for him. He died a poor man. Beloved, don’t be deceived into thinking that you can get away with wicked acts. Whatever a man sows, he shall also reap (Galatians 6:7).
10. No real Christian should ever turn his back on someone who needs help. That is not the nature of our father. Our Lord Jesus Christ went about doing good, and He was always full of compassion (Acts 10:38). When He met a widow on her way to bury her son, without being asked, He wiped away her tears (Luke 7:12-15).
11. If you claim to be Christ-like, you must also be full of compassion for the weak around you.
12. As seen in our Bible text, helping the weak is synonymous with helping God, because He feels their pains. So ask yourself, are you helping to reduce Jesus’ pain, or are you ignoring Him?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

If truly the DNA of Christ is in believers, there shouldn’t be any act of wickedness in the body of Christ. Like Pastor E.A Adeboye stated “No real Christian should ever turn his back on someone who needs help. That is not the nature of our father.” God is compassionate and full of mercy. Sincerely, exploiting the weak or taking advantage of the weak is sin against the almighty God. Today’s devotional is a warning to as many that are exploiting the weak around them, adjust your ways to avoid the wrath of God. May God continually strengthen and uphold Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point: Make a list of weak people around you and reach out to them today.
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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20

Memorise: Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. 1 Kings 20:11
Read: Matthew 26:30-35
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be [a]made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are [b]made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
Bible in one year: Psalm 81-87, Matthew 26:69-27:14

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

1. In today’s Bible reading, we see an overconfident Peter arguing with the One whose Name is Omega. Perhaps Peter forgot that He is the Omega, God knows the end from the beginning.
2. You need to recognize that overconfidence is not synonymous with faith.
3. While overconfidence ignores that which is ordained as if it were not, faith calls those things that be not as though they were.
4. When God’s ordained word says “Abstain from all appearance of evil and flee fornication”, it is overconfidence and not faith that makes a brother linger in a place where female nudity is on display.
5. Your faith cannot annul God’s word.
6. Some people believe that as new creatures in Christ, they are now super beings, no longer susceptible to weaknesses or temptations. Driven by overconfidence and not faith, such people throw wise checks and balances established in God’s word out of the window. No wonder they end up in the same pitiable state Peter found himself in after denying Christ thrice.
7. After Jesus told Peter what would happen to him shortly, instead of praying for grace to stand firm or praying for a reversal of his impending denial, he was busy making “confessions of overconfidence” and not “confessions of faith” as he supposed. Hear his confessions in Matthew 26:35b: “….Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee:” Unfortunately, the same mouth Peter used in making these confessions also denied Christ.
8. Your confessions must be based on the totality of God’s word, if you don’t want to engage in a futile exercise.
9. There is a place for making confessions and affirmations, but basing them on an isolated portion of God’s word cannot override the generality of God’s principles.
10. Apostle Paul got it right when he longed to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, in Philippians 3:12, Paul revealed his mindset with these words: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: bit I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
11. Unlike Paul, some people behave as if they have arrived. Some of such people even try to persuade me to slow down and rest upon what God has done for me over the years in the ministry. They forget that only those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22).
12. Beloved, continually search the scriptures, and make God’s word your compass in life.
13. Pray earnestly also that the grace of Jesus Christ will be more than enough for you to finish well and strong.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:22‭-‬25 Refusal to follow God’s instructions is disobedience and it is an indirect argument with the Omega. The scripture above makes it clear what doing the word of God will result into. So I enjoin us to confess God’s word confidently and seek His help and mercy for it’s fulfillment. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, I have no power of my own; please help me to finish well and strong 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: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ezekiel 18:20
Read: Jeremiah 31:29-33
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Bible in one year: Psalm 73-77, Matthew 26:26-46

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

1. One of the blessings of the cross of Jesus Christ is the removal of generational curses that have been the bane of mankind since the great fall of Adam and Eve.
2. The Holy Spirit reveals this to us in Colossians 2:14 saying: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
3. The work Jesus did on the cross of Calvary brought about the fulfillment of the prophecies that came through Ezekiel and Jeremiah in today’s memory verse and Bible reading. These prophecies foretold the nature and character of the New Covenant under which we are now operating. I encourage you to take out time to read these prophecies in full, so that you will have a full understanding of your place in the New Testament under the Blood of Jesus Christ.
4. The Holy Spirit through Prophet Jeremiah prophesied that a time would come when everyone living under a new covenant would be responsible for their own actions and inactions. The good news is that we live in that time.
5. Through the new covenant in the Blood of Jesus, we are empowered to individually live our lives to the glory of God and be accountable for the way we live our lives. Speaking on this new covenant in Hebrews 8:10, the Holy Spirit says: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people:”
6. Through this verse of Scripture, we understand that it is the Almighty God who helps us keep His new covenant through the Holy Spirit. This is an awesome provision which you must key into.
7. With God’s help, we are also able to escape the impact of divine judgement invoked by parental sins. Nevertheless, we will not escape the consequences of our own sins if we continue in them.
8. The new covenant however opens the door of opportunity for God to wipe away and forget our sins as we confess and forsake them. Hebrews 8:12 says: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
9. Even if some people are still experiencing the destructive power of generational curses, its evil effects can be rendered powerless over you by the new covenant.
10. The Blood of the new covenant makes all the difference. Are you a partaker of the new covenant?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. He is able to deliver us from every curse and bondage if surrender to Him. God bless and continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point: Confess and believe that you are now under the new covenant in the Blood of Jesus, for which reason no ancestral covenant can work against you or hold you bound.
Hymn
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Chorus:
Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my pleas
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

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20

Memorise: As for my people. Children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Isaiah 3:12
Read: Matthew 15:12-14
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Bible in one year: Psalm 69 – 72, Matthew 26:6-25

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

1. There is a scarcity in the Body of Christ today, which only those who are sensitive to the Spirit will discern.
2. This scarcity is neither a scarcity of food or drink nor of ministers or workers; rather, it is a scarcity of mature leaders.
3. This is a source of concern to those who are awaiting the Lord’s second coming, because we need mature leaders to prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom.
4. We have a group of leaders in the Church today who can best be described as babes. As perfectly captured by Prophet Isaiah in today’s memory verse, these are causing spiritual oppression in the Body of Christ.
5. The current situation at hand can be likened to the situation Jesus met during His first advent, captured in our Bible reading. When the Lord exposed the ignorance and hypocrisy of the religious “baby-leaders” of His time, His disciples were afraid, and they came to let Him know that the Pharisees were offended by His teachings. In Matthew 15:13-14, Jesus responded to their fears with these words: “Every plant which my heavenly Father hat not planted, shall be rooted up, let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
6. Furthermore, in His encounter with Nicodemus, the Lord lamented his ignorance of spiritual matters, even though he was a top religious leader. In John 3:10, Jesus said to him: “…Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”
Thank God Nicodemus was humble enough to learn from the Lord, and he eventually became a disciple of Christ (John 19:39-40). This is the response expected of the baby-leaders in the Church today.
7. There was an unmarried young man in our church many years ago. Although he had no marital experience, there was almost nothing he would not teach concerning marriage and childbearing. One of his opinions at that time was that when a woman is in labour, all you need to do is bind the devil, loose the baby and the child will just come forth! With his untested spirituality, he intimidated many married brothers and sisters. He then got married and his wife became pregnant. On the day of delivery, this brother did what he had taught others to do: he bound the devil and loosed the baby, but the baby refused to come forth. After some days of agonising labour in which his wife still could not deliver the baby, he ran into the bush, lay flat on his face and pleaded with God for mercy. After this, his wife delivered their baby. He then understood that his wife’s delivery was only by God’s mercy.
8. It is always dangerous to be under the ministration of baby pastors because more often than not, their exuberance does not yield results when push comes to shove.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

It takes th spirit of God to discern baby rulers and consistent and deep study of God’s word to know incorrect teachings. A believer who doesn’t fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit is likely to remain under tutelage of such baby leaders for long and this may may dangerous for such believer. May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye on every side in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, as I grow in knowledge, let me grow in grace to correctly apply this knowledge wisely, in Jesus’ Name.
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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20

Memorise: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Bible in one year: Psalm 64-68, Matthew 25:31-26:5

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

1. We need to constantly remind ourselves as Christians that we do not have an abiding city in this world.
2. These words of Hebrews 13:14 should continually echo in our ears: “For here have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” To take us to our abiding home, genuine children of God are expecting an event, called the rapture, which the Holy Spirit describes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 saying:“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
3. One truth we should take cognizance of from the above scripture is that only the dead in Christ will be raised at this event. The “dead in Christ” does not include those who died as backsliders; only those who died as genuine Christians will be raised when Jesus comes again. That is why the Lord said in Mark 13:13: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
4. To be rapturable therefore, you must dig in and take a stand for Jesus Christ, even though this may attract persecution or tribulation. However, we must endure these.
5. Persecution and tribulation are not strange to the Christian faith, as our Lord already told us they will happen (Matthew 5:11-12).
6. Those of us still running the Christian race today must be more careful because there are many distractions in the world today than there have ever been before, so many things are happening that can distract us, so much so that we may forget the great event we are expecting, which will determine where we will spend our eternity.
7. We should therefore not be caught unawares, because in Luke 17:26-27, the Lord said: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”
8. I therefore beseech you by the mercies of God to ensure you are not conformed to this world, and to constantly present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Incase you are like the Corinthian during the time of Apostles, be not confused, rapture is real. Let’s consider the response of Apostle Paul to the church when they were also in doubt about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the rapture.
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15:50-52‬ ‭May we all be rapturable in Jesus name. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to continually live a rapturable life in Jesus’ name
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

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20

Memorise: And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18
Read: Matthew 10:1-8
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Bible in one year: Psalm 57-63, Matthew 25:14-30

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

1. We need to fully comprehend what our Lord meant when He said “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
2. More often than not, we think of giving as being limited to material things, and so we lose sight of the fact that we can also give spiritual blessings to others and make spiritual impact.
3. The early apostles realized this truth and that was why Peter and John were not intimidated by their financial limitation (Acts 3:6). They gave from the spiritual deposits God placed in their lives.
4. One of the attributes our Lord Jesus Christ bestowed upon His early disciples was the ability to perform miracles, and we should not be different. They were specifically commissioned by the Lord to go and perform miracles. Matthew 10:7-8 says: “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
5. It is a thing of unspeakable joy to receive a miracle.
6. After I gave my life to Christ, the first notable benefit I received from God was victory over malaria that had hitherto plagued my life almost every month. The first month I did not fall sick was a month of celebration in my family. However, the joy of this cannot be compared to the joy I had the day the Lord first performed a miracle of healing through me. I almost jumped out of the window for joy since then; the Lord has made this a continuous experience in my ministry. Countless miracles that may sound unbelievable have been performed by Him through our ministry. You cannot imagine the joy experienced by an agent of miracles, after God uses him or her to put smiles on the faces of several thousands of women that had been considered barren.
7. Many times, some of my children would organize a dinner or luncheon for me, not only because they want to be generous to me, but because of the miracles that would follow from the encounter. I am full of joy when this happens. My prayer is that you also will become an agent of miracles today in Jesus’ Name.
8. All you need to do is to surrender your life to Jesus and leave the rest to Him. He knows how He turned a fisherman into a fisher of men and an agent of miracles (Matthew 4:18-19, Acts 5:14-15). He also knows how He turned a person who was a danger to the Church into an apostle, whose apron could cast out demons (Acts 19:11-12).
9. If you desire to graduate from being a consumer to an agent of performing miracles, He will fulfill the desire of your heart. Only believe!

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

One mantle most believers frequently ignore or underutilize is that of deliverance. Jesus said “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;”Mark‬ ‭16:17. We should just pray to God for faith to be instruments of miracles, signs and wonders especially people around us. May God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, please make me a channel of blessings and miracles today in Jesus name.
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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Memorise: Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13
Read: Genesis 21:9-21
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
Bible in one year: Psalm 51-56, Matthew 24:36-25:13

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

1. Life is very sacred to God. It is so sacred to Him that its sanctity is guaranteed in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13).
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ also emphasized the sanctity of life in Luke 9:56b, where He said: “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” As children of God, we must therefore ensure that we uphold the sanctity of life, irrespective of the philosophy or ideas in vogue in the world.
3. Today’s Bible reading shows in vivid terms how precious life is to the Almighty, who is the Giver of life.
4. Hagar and her son Ishmael had been ejected from the household of Abraham by God’s instruction, and with a limited provision of water, they wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. When their water got finished, the child became so dehydrated that it cried for survival. At the brink of death, God heard the cry of the lad and He supernaturally provided a well of water for them in the midst of the wilderness. One would have thought that the circumstances surrounding the birth of Ishmael would have made him a total outcast in the sight of God. Instead of being an outcast, God heard his cry as the cry of an innocent lad, and this caused God to come to his rescue. God did not only save his life, He also made him an astonishing promise of greatness, saying in Genesis 21:18: “Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.”
5. One lesson from the story of Hagar and Ishmael is that while God was instructing their ejection, He was also preparing for their survival in the wilderness.
6. Another lesson here is for those who abort unborn babies because they do not want them. Such people should know that they are making grievous mistake against their own future and they are committing a grievous sin against the Giver of life.
7. What they don’t seems to understand is that although they did not prepare for the pregnancy, God who saw what led to the pregnancy has a plan for the life they are bringing to the world, even though they may not know it.
8. That life you do not cherish matters to God who made it, and for this reason, you must be careful about what you do to lives within your sphere of your influence.
9. Why take a life you did not and cannot create?
10. Takers of life will not be guiltless before God. Therefore, in whatever form you are taking lives, stop it today and cry to God for forgiveness

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

One shouldn’t be ignorant of how precious life is but out of carelessness and wickedness many people take it for granted. Why take a life you did not and cannot create? You can’t create even an ant and shouldn’t embark on killing of generation created by God. The truth is that God cherish that unborn chil and has plan for them regardless of how the conceptions took place. May the Lord help everyone who have been taken life for granted. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, in whatever way I have disregarded the sacredness of life, please forgive me and help me to appreciate lives around me as you do.
Hymn
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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: I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. Ecclesiastes 10:7
Read: Proverbs 6:4-11
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the [a]fowler. The Folly of Indolence
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no [b]captain, Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her [c]supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you [d]slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Bible in one year: Psalm 45-50, Matthew 24:15-35

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

1. The Preacher’s observation in today’s memory verse is worthy of our reflection.
2. It is indeed an interesting sight to see servants promoted to the level of riding on horses; of course, God is more than able to do this for those who love Him. However, it is an evil thing when princes are relegated to the position of walking on foot as servants. For those who profess to be god’s special people, such a situation is an anomaly and must be avoided. It is practically the same as performing below potential. The pertinent question we should consider is how come those who should be served are now in servitude? Thankfully, our Bible reading does not only reveal the cause, it also reveals the cure.
3. Laziness is the root cause of performing below potential.
4. Any price taught in the web of laziness will not amount to anything in life. Instead, his or her inheritance will go to other hands that are diligent, because God’s principle set out in Proverbs 12:24 says: “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”
5. Poverty sends people to the field of servitude, and this is inevitable for the indolent.
6. There is the story of two friends who went to an oracle to know their future. The seer turned to one of them and said, “Hail, the future king!” On hearing these words, he went away and began to celebrate himself as the future king, even though he was still in rags. The seer turned to the other man and said, “You will die in abject poverty”. He was dejected, but determined in his heart that he would fight to be successful, and so he went into the jungle and began to farm. After many years, he became prosperous, having plenty goods with male and female servants. A famine came to the town where his friend was living, still waiting for his “kingdom” to come. While searching for food, citizens of this town discovered the hardworking man and his abundance of supplies. They begged him to become their king, promising to serve him in exchange for food to survive the famine. That was how a man who was supposed to die in penury became a king, while an expectant “future king” remained poor for the rest of his life.
7. In conclusion, please note that diligence itself is time-bound.
8. There is time for everything under heaven. When some things are done belatedly, their purpose ends up being defeated.
9. Our Bible text teaches about the ant, which provides food in the summer and gather what it needs in harvest.
10. What you do today determines what becomes of you in future.
11. The cure for poor performance is proper preparation. For example, if your ambition is to become just a messenger, you don’t need a university education for that. However, if you desire to become a captain of industry, more often than not, you will need more than elementary education to achieve this. A word is enough for the wise.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Firstly, I like to say when you know your God and who you are in Him you will easily and consciously maximise your potential wherever you find yourself. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 22:29 May God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

 
Prayer Point: Father, lift me up above mediocrity, and grant me grace to pay the price of good success.
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: For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
Read: John 2:1-5
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Bible in one year: Psalm 40-44, Matthew 23:29-24:14

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

1. One Christian virtue that is gradually disappearing from the lives of believers today is the virtue of waiting for God’s appointed time.
2. The story in today’s Bible text reveals the necessity of following the divine time-table for all events, even if it involves waiting. There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus was invited there, together with His mother, Mary, and His disciples. While the ceremony was going on, they discovered that there was no more wine for people to drink. Mary came to Him and requested Him to do what only He could do. However, it was not yet time for this. Jesus’ response in John 2:4 reveals the importance of waiting for God’s appointed time: “…Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.”
3. Mary’s response was equally noteworthy. She agreed with Him that the hour had indeed not come; nevertheless, the celebrants’ need required attention. She instructed the servants of the host that when the hour had fully come, they should do whatsoever Jesus instructed (John 2:5). In obedience to her, these servants waited. Although we don’t know how long they waited on Jesus, we know that at the appointed time, He gave the instructions that put an end to the need at the feast. God will speak to your needs today in Jesus’ Name.
4. There are lots of lessons from the series of events that occurred at this marriage feast; first of which is that Mary’s instruction to the servants could be regarded as prophetic. She was confident that Jesus would do something about the situation. To avoid losing the miracle, she put the servants on notice to obey any command from Jesus.
5. Another lesson for us is that Mary stopped worrying herself after she had taken the matter to the Ultimate Helper.
6. Many children of God worry so much that they become incapacitated, even after a word of prophecy about their situation has gone forth.
7. A fellow who met me during one of my prayer walks at the Redemption Camp, Nigeria, asked me to pray for him, and I prophesied to him, saying “God bless you”. To my surprise, he still asked me to pray for him. I wondered in my heart what other prayer was greater than “God bless you” – a prayer of blessing with no limit. I prophesy to a reader of this devotional today: “God bless you.” May the Lord grant you the faith to receive this blessing in Jesus Name.
8. The third lesson is that the expected miracle eventually came, even though they had to wait.
9. This is the promise of God to a user of this devotional today: “All the pleasant prophesies that came to you before today shall come to pass at their appropriate time.” However, please do whatever God commands you to do.
10. Be obedient to God’s word.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Obedience is great key to obtaining God’s promises. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 28:1‭-‬2. Another great key I faith. Hebrews 11:1‭-‬2 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.” May we not miss our Miracle because of disobedience and unbelief in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God bless and continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye on every side in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, I receive the fulfillment of all Your prophecies into my life today in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
My faith look up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
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!
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.
When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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20

Memorise: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7
Read: Malachi 2:13-17
13 Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.
14 You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
15 Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.[a] So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[b] says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”
Bible in one year: Psalm 36–39, Matthew 23:1-28

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

1. Apart from sexual infidelity, one other way of defiling the matrimonial bed is through domestic violence. This can come from the man or the woman.
2. God hates violence generally, but particularly despises it in marriage, and for this reason, He said in Malachi 2:16: “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with is garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”
3. The breakdown of affection between married couples is a highly emotional issue with God, so much so that in today’s Bible reading, the tears, weeping and crying emanating from the agony of broken marriages made Him disregard the people’s worship, as we see in Malachi 2:13: “And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering anymore, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.”
4. Many people don’t know that domestic violence particularly among married couples, is a great hindrance and stumbling block to their spiritual growth and blessing. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit sent these words to the Church in 1 Peter 3:7, saying: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
5. Violence, wife battering, husband battering and the like directly offend the Almighty God.
6. I have on many occasions told the story of a man whose only daughter was maltreated by her husband. This man hated his son-in-law so much that his hatred made him terribly sick. It was not until he forgave his son-in-law that he was able to recover from his sickness. This is how much domestic violence can destroy lives and families. Husbands, you are inviting the wrath of God upon your life when you maltreat the redeemed daughter of Zion you are priviledge to have as wife.
7. Note that in Malachi 2:16, when expressing how much He hates divorce and domestic violence, God used the Name He uses in combat.
8. Therefore, stop defiling your bed with violence against your spouse, either physical violence or verbal violence.
9. Wives should learn to submit to their husbands, irrespective of what the world thinks about his (Ephesians 5:22-23).
10. Beloved, the truth is that unless we allow Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, to come into our marriages, the expected peace may continue to elude us.
11. Therefore, I appeal to you to raise an altar of submission and corporate worship to the Lord Jesus Christ in your home, and you will begin to experience peace and prosperity in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Action Point: Go to God in repentance for any form of violence you have introduced into your home.
Hymn
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!
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!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show other Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
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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