Devotionals

Memorise: Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job 22:28
Read: James 5:14-18
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 27, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

1. Our God is a God of dominion who rules by decrees (Psalm 148:5-6, Jeremiah 5:22). It therefore follows that if He created man in His own image and after His likeness, man should also rule by decrees.
2. Genesis 1:28 gives an insight into the mandate of dominion that God gave to man after he was created: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have a dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
3. It is unfortunate that man fell from his position of authority where he ruled by decrees and began to be ruled by circumstances.
4. It is however more unfortunate that some children of God have failed to realise the position of dominion that they have been restored to in the new dispensation of the covenant in the Blood of Jesus (Luke 22:20).
5. It is true that man fell and lost his dominion, but it is equally true that this dominion was restored through the second Adam: Jesus. Therefore, man should no longer live under the curse of sin anymore, because he has regained his dominion through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, who died as a ransom for the sins of the human race (Romans 5:12, 17, 18).
6. This is the confidence by which the apostles of old lived, and the basis of their ability to live by decrees. Paul demonstrated this in Acts 16:18: “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.”
7. Even before the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, some men peered into the glory of the dispensation that was to come and were able to partake of the glory which they saw afar off (I Peter 1:10-11). One of such men is Elijah, who lived and ruled by decrees. Elijah was calling the shots and holding sway on behalf of his God ( I Kings 17:1, 2Kings 1:10).
8. The good news is that we of the new dispensation have a better covenant than that of Elijah, because the Son of God is at the right hand of power backing our decrees up through His intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:34).
9. You must therefore recognize and believe that the words of Job 22:28 apply to you.
10. Henceforth, live by decrees and dominion, and never allow yourself become a victim of circumstance again. Jesus is Lord!

Memorise: Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job 22:28
Read: James 5:14-18
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 27, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

1. Our God is a God of dominion who rules by decrees (Psalm 148:5-6, Jeremiah 5:22). It therefore follows that if He created man in His own image and after His likeness, man should also rule by decrees.
2. Genesis 1:28 gives an insight into the mandate of dominion that God gave to man after he was created: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have a dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
3. It is unfortunate that man fell from his position of authority where he ruled by decrees and began to be ruled by circumstances.
4. It is however more unfortunate that some children of God have failed to realise the position of dominion that they have been restored to in the new dispensation of the covenant in the Blood of Jesus (Luke 22:20).
5. It is true that man fell and lost his dominion, but it is equally true that this dominion was restored through the second Adam: Jesus. Therefore, man should no longer live under the curse of sin anymore, because he has regained his dominion through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, who died as a ransom for the sins of the human race (Romans 5:12, 17, 18).
6. This is the confidence by which the apostles of old lived, and the basis of their ability to live by decrees. Paul demonstrated this in Acts 16:18: “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.”
7. Even before the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, some men peered into the glory of the dispensation that was to come and were able to partake of the glory which they saw afar off (I Peter 1:10-11). One of such men is Elijah, who lived and ruled by decrees. Elijah was calling the shots and holding sway on behalf of his God ( I Kings 17:1, 2Kings 1:10).
8. The good news is that we of the new dispensation have a better covenant than that of Elijah, because the Son of God is at the right hand of power backing our decrees up through His intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:34).
9. You must therefore recognize and believe that the words of Job 22:28 apply to you.
10. Henceforth, live by decrees and dominion, and never allow yourself become a victim of circumstance again. Jesus is Lord!

We must take advantage of the word of God and make use of it to the fullest in faith. Job 22:28 says “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”. Also Ecclesiastes 8:4 says “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” In the light of this revelation, let’s go ahead and make decrees concerning our lives and situation we desire a change for. We are grateful to God for blessing our generation with Pastor E.A Adeboye. May His strength be renewed in Jesus name.

Action Point
Make decrees in the Name of Jesus against every negative circumstance in your life, your home, your church, your community and your country.
HYMN

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20

Memorise: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:18
Read: Proverbs 23:29-35
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 26, 1st Corinthians 11:17-12:11

1. Our imagination cannot begin to grasp the extent of the many benefits which our redemption through the Blood of Jesus Christ grants to us.
2. The price that was paid on the cross of Calvary forever changed our state, our status and our future. One of the changes it made to our status is revealed to us in Revelation 1:5b-6: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
3. It is clear from this scripture that those who have been redeemed by the precious Blood of the Lamb are kings. To leave no doubt in our minds, our status of royalty is further declared to us in 1st Peter 2:9. Having been taken from the dunghill of sin and made kings unto God, the least we can do is to comport ourselves in a manner that aligns with our new status.
4. In order for us to continually live in the reality of our royal status, the Holy Spirit has gone the extra mile to clearly define what we should and should not do as kings unto God. One of those things we should not do is clearly stated in Proverbs 31:4 as follows: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel,  it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:”
5. I believe this is clear enough. For those who want to live their lives as kings unto God in this world and reign as kings with Jesus Christ in the world to come, total abstinence from alcohol is not an option.
6. Today’s Bible text further explains to us the reason why alcohol is not for kings. It may seem harmless at the time it is being gulped down the throat, but when it arrives in your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, what does it do? It stirs up things in you that are contrary to the nature of God that you share. Proverbs 23:33 mentions some of such things: “Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.”
7. Just take a look at Noah to understand what alcohol can do to a great man (Genesis 9:19-25). It eventually brought an everlasting curse upon one of his beloved children. I pray for you that your appetite will not put you in trouble in Jesus’ Name.
8. Please drop your contentious arguments about drinking alcohol today. Count it a worthy sacrifice you need to make to follow after the Master.
9. Seek to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit and the appetite for wine will fade into oblivion (Ephesians 5:18)

Are you a king? If your answer is yes then take heed! Many people who are yet to be delivered from the bondage of wine would defend themselves saying Jesus turned water to wine or it is excess drinking they were cautioned against. Please let whoever is yet to follow all above make a quick and necessary change. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that may he wax stronger in Jesus name.

Action Point
Always be cautious of the content of any drink handed over to you for consumption and ensure that it is non-alcoholic before you drink it.
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 sliver 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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20

Memorise: And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Read: Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 25, 1st Corinthians 10:23-11:16

1. A disciple is a disciplined follower of Jesus Christ, committed to the life and principles of God’s kingdom which Jesus Christ came to teach and demonstrate on earth.
2. When He was leaving the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ instructed those who were already His disciples to make disciples of all nations of the world.
3. Why is it necessary to make people Christ’s disciples, and how do we make disciples of people? What does the kingdom of God stand to gain when people are made disciples of Jesus Christ? These are questions worthy of our consideration.
4. We are to make disciples of all nations of the world because it is the Lord’s commandment. The Lord commanded us to do this because He wants to reconcile all of mankind back to God. 2nd Corinthians 5:19 says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
5. After a lost soul has experienced the new-birth in Christ, God expects that a systematic teaching of His word will follow in order to transform the new believer into the image of Jesus Christ. For this reason, the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 28:9-10 says: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
6. One characteristic of a genuinely born-again fellow is the desire to grow through God’s word (1st Peter 2:2-3). Such a person should therefore not be starved of the sound teaching of the word.  If you have led a person to Christ, it should be your desire to see that person grow into the stature of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13-15).
7. The Church and the world stand to gain peace as the number of the disciples of the Prince of Peace increases. Terrorism will be eliminated. There would be no Al-Qaeda, ISIS or Boko Haram sects. Murder, drug addition, homosexuality and other acts of sin will become unpopular. Police stations and Prison yards will perpetually be on holiday. The earth will become a paradise.
8. This will come to fulfilment, because the Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 6:10, taught us to pray thus: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

As Christ’s ambassadors here on earth, discipline and obedience is a great virtue we must possess. It is very important for us to follow-up souls won during evangelism so as to ensure they get the right word of God for their spiritual growth. No mother will give birth to a child and leave such child to go home himself or herself. Instant nurturing begins for such child and that is how the souls we win should be nurtured. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye and we pray that God will give him strength for greater impact in Jesus name.

Action Point
Put up a soul-winning outreach in your locality; arrange an effective house-fellowship where your potential converts will be taught the rudimentary tenets of the Christian faith and begin to disciple people.
HYMN
THEE
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;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
Then, with my walking 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: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James1:17
Read: Exodus 13:20-22
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 23, 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22

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

1. Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to His disciples very important aspects of His Being when He declared Himself as the Light of the world in John 8:12: “Then spake Jesus unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
2. He followed up by manifesting this attribute when He performed a creative miracle in order to bring light into the life of a man who had never been able to see (John9). Before creating eyes where none existed before, to signify the purpose of what He was about to do, He declared in John 9:5: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world”
3. I pray that any form of darkness engulfing your life will disappear today in Jesus’ Name. You cannot drive away darkness. All you need to do to make darkness disappear is to let the in the light. For this reason, I ask you to allow Jesus into every area of your life without exception, because wherever He is, there will be light. If He enters your life today, light has entered into you.
4. From today’s memory verse, we understand that Jesus is also the Father of lights. It then follows that if Jesus is the Father of lights, He must have children who are lights. Who then are the children of the Father of lights? We Christian are. He revealed our identity to us in Matthew 5:14, saying: Ýe are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
5. There is no hiding place for genuine children of Light, because they cannot but function to expose the works of darkness. As light, we are to guide those who are in darkness out of it (Romans 2:19). As our Lord is the Light of the world, so are we. We must shine on His behalf by exposing the evil of sin and the wickedness of the devil and his agents.
6. Doing this will certainly attract persecution, and so we must be battle-ready against the kingdom of darkness. Our focus must be on Jesus Christ the Light from whom we obtain our light. Let’s hold on to His message to us in John15:19: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
7. This is where the problem lies: children of the Light today are not ready to be hated. They would rather conform to the world instead of using their light to transform the world. God will help you shine brightly as an agent of transformation in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Every believer should be ready to face persecution and be hated. As painful or tiring it may be we are to endure because of the end result. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:18‭-‬21 God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye. May he wax stronger in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me shine for You in the darkness of this world, and according to Your word, don’t let darkness comprehend my light in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
I have decide 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.
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
 My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’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: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; I Timothy 2:5
Read: Exodus 20:1-6
And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 21-22, 1 Corinthians 9:8-23

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

1. The God whom I serve is not only the beginning. He is also the ending (Revelation 1:8). This is why He can give a lost . a new beginning and also bring those without hope to an expected end (Exodus 12:2, 2Corinthinas 5:17, Jeremiah 29:11). This simply means that the Almighty God that I serve is the All in All who fills everywhere (Psalm 139:7-13, Ephesians 4:9-10).
2. The supremacy and per-eminence of the Almighty God of heaven and earth was not bestowed on Him by any man or creature; they are inherent in Him (1 Timothy 6:16). His supremacy and pre-eminence must be acknowledged by all His creation (Psalms 103:19-22). In today’s Bible text, God demands exclusive worship from those He calls His own.
3. He clearly spelt out this demand because He knows that there is a tendency for mankind to worship the contraptions of his heart. Who is the God that your serve; the self-existing God or a contraption borne out of the imagination of men’s hearts? A lot of people today have what such people say and believe whatever they spew out of their mouths, even when such things are contrary to what the Creator has said in His word.
4. Some people worship whatever the imaginations of their heart brings to them by believing that they are what their thoughts say they are, contrary to what God created them to be. To such people, their imagination is their god and they bend in whatever direction it leads them. This is why some people subject themselves to gender reassignment surgery, based on what their imagination dictates.
5. As a human being, whether you like it or not, there will always be something you worship, even though you don’t realise it. It is a dangerous thing to make anything aside from the God of heaven the object of your worship, because this elicits a curse from heaven. Jeremiah 17:5 says, “Thus saith the LORD; Curse be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
6. Moreover, the Lord commanded that we should not bow to anything or anyone but Himself. This was the position Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego took when they were faced with the option of bowing or burning (Daniel 3). They chose to burn rather than bow to the image of King Nebuchadnezzar. Today, for fear of death, nay are bowing to the image of witchcraft, sorcery and various occult groups. Jesus came to deliver such people, if they will accept Him (Hebrews 2:14-15).
7. Don’t let anyone deceive you, there is no other god beside the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus is the only way to Him ( I Timothy 2:5). Accept Jesus today and put your absolute trust in Him alone.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“For I am the Lord , I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?” Malachi 3:6‭-‬7 He alone is God yes I know! But there may be some attitude that is saying otherwise yet we ignore it. It is high time we started correcting such attitude and turn to God for everything and in everything as the only God. Let’s return to God so He can return to us. God bless and continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Is there anything or anyone playing God in your life? Renounce the dominion of such persons or things over your life and begin to worship the one true God.
HYMN
Immortal, invisible, God only
wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our
eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the
Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great
name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as
light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou
rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high
soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of
Goodness and love.
To all life Thou givest, to both
great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life
of all;
We bloosom and flourish as leaves
on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought
Changeth Thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure
Father of Light.
Thine angels adore Thee, all
Veiling their sight
All laud we would render, O
help us to see:
‘Tis only the splendor of light
hideth Thee
Immortal, invisible, God only
wise,
In light inaccessible hid from
our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the
Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great
name we praise.

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20

Memorise: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 2Corinthians 6:14
Read: 2 Chronicles 18:28-32
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORDhelped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 19-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:7

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

1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1. Why does the Holy Spirit counsel us not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful? It is simply because you will be judged by the company you keep.
2. The story in today’s text is food for thought and a lesson to all those who think that they can still keep their old friends after their new birth experience. Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, went in the company of Ahab, the evil king of Israel, to fight a battle. Despite the warning by God’s prophet that the outcome of the battle would not be favourable, he still went ahead with Ahab to fight in this battle (2 Chronicles 18:9-16).
3. Meanwhile, Ahab decided to disguise himself as an ordinary soldier, while he persuaded Jehoshaphat to dress in his royal roes. Unknown to Jehoshaphat, the king of Syria had instructed his soldiers to go after the king of Israel alone. So, on sighting Jehoshaphat dressed in royal apparel, the soldiers went after him, thinking he was the king of Israel. He would have been killed, but for divine intervention. One lesson here is that the king of Judah would not have been attacked if he had not kept company with an evil king who was under God’s judgement (2 Chronicles 18:27).
4. Another lesson is that keeping company with the ungodly exposes you to the dangers of fraudulent lifestyle. Why did King Ahab disguise himself as if he was not a king? One can only assume his motive was to set Jehoshaphat up for intense attack.
5. There have been stories of young school girls who have been defiled because of the promiscuous company that they kept. So-called “friends” have set friends up for gang rape. One reason why children of God must be wary of keeping company with the ungodly is that the children of this world know how to manoeuvre through the dangers of a sinful life, but the children of light don’t know the ways of this world (Luke 16:8).
6. The story was told of a good boy who went out for the very first time in the company of drug addicts. Unfortunately, they were arrested along by law enforcement agents and this boy was arrested along with drug addicts. His parents could not believe it when the news go to them. A Christian who keeps company with the ungodly will end up becoming a victim. It is certain that nothing good can come out of such relationships. Therefore, be careful of the people you associate or partner with.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 Bad company is unhealthy for any child of God. As such believer is exposed to their ungodly way continually they become influenced no matter how careful they are. It is therefore far better to stay away from such company. May God help us in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God bless and equip Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point:
Check out the friends and brethren you associate with. Withdraw from any one of them who echibits ungodly attitudes.
HYMN 
I have decide 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.
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’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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Memorise: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. I Corinthians 12:11
Read: I Corinthians 12:1-12
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ
Bible in one year: Leviticus 17-18, 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

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

1. There is one silent source of confusion in the Body of Christ which must be addressed for the sake of the advancement of God’s kingdom. It is a combination of attitudes and feelings known as the “complex”. A complex is a mental or psychological state that should be alien to the Body of Christ. It manifests itself as inferiority or superiority complex. Ironically, the Church has lived with this issue through the ages. Apostle Paul in today’s text warns us against the manifestation of such attitudes – whether as inferiority or superiority complex. How does the issue of “complex” operate in the Body of Christ?
2. It is through the exhibition of spiritual gifts. There was an issue with the demonstration of spiritual gifts in the Church at Corinth, whereby some offices were considered superior and some other spiritual gifts were looked down on as inferior. Against this background, Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren to enlighten them on the distribution and operation of the different offices and spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ. The analogy of human body parts used by Paul to explain this spiritual truth is very profound. In I Corinthians 12:17, Paul rhetorically asks, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?”
3. The truth is that the whole body cannot be the eyes; if this were the case there would be no movement, which is the prerogative of the legs. Therefore, if the eye cannot do without the legs and the ears cannot do without the nose, why should the eyes or ears think that they are superior to the legs or nose? Unfortunately, this was the situation in the Church at Corinth, as is the case in a typical church organization today. We must recognize this reality and work towards eradicating the anomaly by continuously teaching ourselves the truth of God’s word.
4. The most important thing about spiritual gifts is that their recipients must use them for the edification of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13), I Corinthians 12:7). Another mystery of spiritual gifts is that those gifts which some consider as less important are equally as important as those held in high esteem (I Corinthians 12:22-25). For example , if we ignore the ministry of intercession because intercessors are often not known or seen like the evangelists and minstrels, the Church may become a comfortable zone for demons to operate, and them the preacher and the choir will preach and sing with no effect.
5. The Church must begin to appreciate the gift of God in each member of the Body of Christ and celebrate them for who they are as very important and valuable. There should be no complex of any kind.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Everyone in the body of Christ is important and each one of us have a unique function which complements the other for the fulfilment of the great commission. It is therefore important for us to work together as one in vineyard. God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point:
Identify the spiritual gifts God has deposited in your life and begin to use them for the advancement of God’s kingdom in your local Church assembly.
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;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
Then, with my walking 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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Memorise: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
Read: Mark 16:15-18
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 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.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 15-16, 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:16

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

1. Prior to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, God placed a high value on the Name to be given to His only begotten Son, so much so that He sent an angel to signify what His name should be (Matthew 1:21). There is absolutely nothing that the Name of Jesus Christ cannot accomplish for whosoever believes in Him. This Name cannot be ignored by the devil or any of his fallen angels.
2. Why is this Name so powerful? It is because God has bestowed astonishing power, privilege, authority and honour on that Name (Phillipians 2:9-11). Above all else this Name breaks the power of sin. Acts 10:43 says:“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
3. One amazing truth about this Name is that all its accomplishments are to the glory of God the Father, and for this reason, the Father will not spare anyone who despises it. Of course, the Name carries the authority of its Owner, and is capable of doing whatever its Owner can do. Just as your signature can take millions of money out of the bank without you necessarily being there, so also can the Name of Jesus perform the feasts that Jesus Christ performed, but only when all the necessary conditions for its use met by the user. Some of these conditions are spelt out in today’s Bible text.
4. Demons are cast out by the Name of Jesus Christ. You may not appreciate this function of His Name until your eyes of understanding are opened to the diabolical and destructive activities of demons in the lives of people. This Name also empowers us to lay hands on the sick for healing. One of the greatest weapons of torment in the hands of the devil is sickness, but through faith in the use of this Name, sicknesses and disease are vanquished.
5. A woman who was demonically attacked with a terrible cough was brought to one of our church programmes. A simple prayer was said for her in the Name of Jesus Christ and she was healed. The agent of the devil who inflicted her with this infirmity wondered how she got healed, because the one who prepared the charm for her said the sickness had no cure. The liberated lady told her adversary that she got her healing in the church. The wicked woman then begged her ex-victim to take her to Jesus where she confessed her sins and became a child of God as well.
6. The Name of Jesus indeed brings healing (Acts 3:1-16). Peter in Acts 3:16 testified thus about thus Name: “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know.”
This Name will also work wonders in your life; if you just believe, you will see the glory of God.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 Confessing His Lordship gives us the key to sonship. Being son of God creates a relationship that brings liberty. The knowledge of the power in the name of Jesus is not enough, application and usage of the name as and when necessary matters a lot. May God help us in Jesus name. We are grateful to God for blessing us with Pastor E.A Adeboye. May God renew his strength in Jesus name.

Action Point:
Apply the authority in the Name of Jesus to areas of your life that need healing and deliverance.
HYMN
Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.
At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your Anthems raise!
Like a mighty army   
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we-
One in faith and Spirit
One eternally.
Crowns and thrones may perish
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
‘Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
Which can never fail.
Onward, then, ye people!
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor
Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

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Memorise: Then Paul answered What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13
Read: Acts 21:8-14
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 14, 1st Corinthians 5:1-6:11

1. It is very dangerous for a person to believe in religious falsehood, particularly because the love a person has for what he or she worships can be stronger than death.
2. We can see the negative impact of this manifestation in the proliferation of suicide bombers in the world we live in today. 
3. The unfortunate and sad aspect of this satanic phenomenon is that people engaged in such acts believe that they are dying for God’s cause, but nothing could be further from the truth.
4. No wonder Jesus, in John 4:22, said to the woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria: “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”
5. One man who knew who he was worshipping and worshipped Him in spirit and truth was Paul. His worship of God was based on his love for Him and his love for fellow men. This is unlike some today, whose worship is based on the hatred of others who do not share their ideology; hence their commitment to bring sorrow, tears and even death to them.
6. A demonstration of the strong love Paul had for God is seen in today’s Bible reading, His determination to please the Master is highly intimidating to those of us living in such times as these. He was determined to pay the supreme price, if that was the will of God for his life. This contrasts with what’s happening in the Church today, where people are still arguing about whether they need to give up the worldly lifestyle they were living before becoming born again.
7. Some people find it difficult to change the content of their wardrobe which contradicts the new life they profess to have embraced.
8. Some so-called Christians do not have the love of Christ that is strong enough to make them abandon their appetite for alcohol and other sinful substances.
9. The commitment some people have for Christ does not take their eyes away from women other than their wives.
10. Unlike such people, Paul refused to back down from proclaiming the Name of Jesus to the world, despite the accurate prophecy concerning the suffering his commitment to the cause of the gospel would bring to him (Acts 21:13).
11. How God would love to have many more Christians like Paul today!
12. Heaven clearly acknowledged and recorded the sacrifices and trials of those who have gone ahead of us in Hebrews 11:36-37: “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;”
13. Is your committed to Christ comparable to the commitment shown by them?
14. Examine your commitment to Christ today and determine whether you are worthy of being called His disciples.

Our love for God must be as solid as rock, un negotiable, deep and true. The giver of life and breath in our nostrils deserves our all. He’s got power over death and can raise the dead. No one gives to the Lord and lose. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:24‭-‬28. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me love You, even as YOU love me.
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 sliver 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: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12
Read: 2nd Kings 2:9-15
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 13, 1st Corinthians 4

1. When Elisha requested for the double portion of Elijah’s anointing, he was simply asking for the ability to do greater works than what his master had done. Here is Elijah’s response to his request: “… Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it  shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” 2nd Kings 2:10
2. One lesson we should quickly learn from this response is that any child of God asking God for more of His gifts or blessings is actually courting higher responsibilities.
3. Asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit required great faith on the part of the upcoming prophet. In the same vein, it requires faith from us to believe that we can do greater things than Christ did.
4. As far as Elisha was concerned, nothing could be allowed to come between him and the anointing for greater works. He therefore keenly watched and followed the footsteps of his master. As they took a walk and talked, a chariot of fire and flaming horses parted them. Elisha beheld this, and he cried out to signify that he saw everything and had met the condition Elijah laid down for him. He tore his clothes and picked up the mantle that fell from Elijah while he was being transported to heaven, signifying that he was ready to change his old garment to a new one for a new life of greater exploits.
5. I have good news for you: someone greater than Elijah is now present with us, and His Name is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. He came to die for our sins and to rescue us from all forms of damnation. The Bible testifies that He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).
6. To be able to do what He did and even greater things than He did, you must decide to follow Him all the way, just as Elisha did with Elijah.
7. In order to be intimate with Jesus Christ, doing His bidding is not optional.
8. After Elisha got the double portion of Elijah’s spirit, other sons of the prophets had to acknowledge the beautiful thing that had taken place in his life, and they all bowed to him. A greater experience awaits those who give their lives to Christ, because demons will begin to bow to them. This is just part of the Lord’s promise to us (Mark 16:17-18)
9. What is expected of us, therefore, is to abide in Him and follow His way of life and the ideals He brought from His Father, even if this requires our having to suffer for Him. 1st Peter 2:21 says “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16 He chose us to be His a bring forth fruits that will abide. By doing this greater works shall be evident through us. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that God will continue to uphold him in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please count me worthy to do greater works than my Master did while on earth, and let Your Name be glorified through me.
HYMN
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.
I need Thee every hour
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine Indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

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