Devotionals

Memorise: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18
Read: Joel 2:28-32
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lordshall call.
Bible in one year: Ephesians 2-4, Daniel 9:3-15

1. You can live above the storms of life in these last days through the power of God’s word.
2. The Lord has promised us in His word that He will not leave us comfortless (John 14:18). You therefore have His assurance that no matter how bad your situation may appear to be, there is hope for you. Let these words of Job 14:7 bring hope to your heart: “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” While Jesus and His disciples were on a missionary journey, the disciples desperately called his attention to a raging storm.
3. He calmly woke up and rebuked the storm, and right away, there was great calm (Mark 4:36-41). The disciples first struggled to survive the storm on their own, but the more they tried, the more they were in danger of perishing at sea, until Jesus intervened. I pray that the Almighty God will intervene in your situation today in Jesus’ Name.
4. From the words of the Lord, we know that the last days will be a time of turmoil with several raging storms (Luke 21:25-26).
5. We are indeed in the last days. Are you experiencing a storm?
6. The Lord has different strategies to bring comfort to you. He can simply calm the storm by the awesome power of His presence, or by directly commanding the storm to become still. He can also provide a cover for you from the storm. This is why you need to stay in God’s presence where your destiny can remain secure.
7. The Lord has promised the outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh in the last days. Acts 2:17 says, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:”
8. We are living in times when the Spirit of the Lord is empowering the saints for the fulfilment of prophecies and the actualisation of visions. The Body of Christ therefore has no excuse not to do exploits for God in times as these, because the promise of the Spirit’s outpouring has already been fulfilled by the Father.
9. God is set to do great things, not because of our own abilities but because of His sovereignty.
10. Not one of God’s children will be left out of His great move in these last days. Sons, daughters, old men, young men, menservants and maidservants are all relevant to God in His agenda for this time.
11. He has reserved better things for His people in the midst of the turmoil unfolding in the world, and He will begin to give us divine revelation of how we will transmit from where we are to where we ought to be by His spirit. The Spirit will also release the strength and vigour needed for the actualisation of these dreams.

God is the solid rock and the only strength to carry on in these last days it is so beautiful and inspiring to know that victory is sure. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye and may he be strengthened in his body and mind in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, let there be an outpouring of Your Spirit upon my life.
HYMN
1. My faith looks up to thee, 
thou Lamb of Calvary, 
Savior divine! 
Now hear me while I pray, 
take all my guilt away, 
O let me from this day 
be wholly thine! 
2. May thy rich grace impart 
strength to my fainting heart, 
my zeal inspire! 
As thou hast died for me, 
O may my love to thee 
pure, warm, and changeless be, 
a living fire! 
3. While life’s dark maze I tread, 
and griefs around me spread, 
be thou my guide; 
bid darkness turn to day, 
wipe sorrow’s tears away, 
nor let me ever stray 
from thee aside. 
4. When ends life’s transient dream, 
when death’s cold, sullen stream 
shall o’er me roll; 
blest Savior, then in love, 
fear and distrust remove; 
O bear me safe above, 
a ransomed soul! 

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20

Memorise: Who maketh this angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Psalm 104:4
Read: Psalm 91:9-13
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Bible in one year: Galatians 4-6, Ephesians 1, Daniel 8:15-9:2

1. There are several misconceptions about the existence and purpose of angels.
2. Some people don’t believe that angels exist. Some other people who believe in the existence of angels don’t know their purpose.
3. It is important for us to know the truth of what God’s word says about angels, so that we don’t miss out on the ministry of angels in our lives.
4. Today’s memory verse confirms that angels exist, and gives a hint on why they were created. From this scripture, we understand that angels are ministering spirits.
5. We have two categories of angles: holy angels of God and fallen angels. The term “fallen angels” refers to Satan and the group of angels that rebelled along with him against God. These angels, now called the devil and demons, were cast out of heaven and are awaiting the day of God’s final judgement against them, when they will be sent into the place of eternal punishment (Isaiah 14:12-16, Ezekiel 28:12-19, Revelation 12:9, Matthew 8:29, Revelation 20:10). On the other hand, the holy angels of God are those angels that have remained loyal to God as their sovereign Lord. Concerning these angels, Psalms 103:20 says, “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”
6. As a child of God, the angels of God are meant to minister to you and for you in the hour of great need, especially in situations beyond human control and power. Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
7. For example, angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation and before He went to the cross (Matthew 4:11, Luke 22:43).
8. Psalm 91:11-12 mentions some specific assignments of the angels of God, saying, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
9. Years ago, when some of the brethren came to me suggesting that I begin to carry bodyguards around, because they would not want to lose me to hoodlums or hired assassins, I declined because, based on the above scripture, the One who called me has more than enough angelic bodyguards to take care of my security, and they are more effective than a billion human bodyguards could ever be.
10. Note however that the angels of God should never be worshipped or prayed to. Often times, because of their awesome nature, those who encountered them attempted to do this, but every time, these angels themselves forbade them from doing so (Revelation 22:8-9).
11. Are you enjoying the ministry of angels?

“Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.” Psalms‬ ‭148:2-5‬. Which implies that the angels are praising God. Also, “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:11-14‬ ‭They are seen as messenger. Let’s understand their function and utilize it. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom for greater works in Jesus name.

Action Point
Thank God for His ministering spirits that have been assigned to take care of you.
HYMN
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
[Chorus]
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
[Chorus]
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
[Chorus]

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20

Memorise: For I desired mercy, and sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
Read: Psalm 51:12-18
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Bible in one year: Galatians 1-3, Daniel 8:1-14

1. Going to church is not same as knowing God.
2. There are many people in church today whose lifestyles do not reflect having any experiential knowledge of who God is.
3. Furthermore, being involved in church activities is not the same as loving God. If you love God, it will show in the way you conduct the affairs of your life.
4. God is a merciful God who desires the prosperity of His children, and He is in search of hearts that are longing for Him.
5. God is calling us into an intimate knowledge of His son and His attributes.
6. If you know God, the evidence will be seen in the way you relate with people around you. This includes your colleagues in the office as well as your neighbours at home.
7. If your lifestyle does not match with God’s word, no matter how much you give to Him or the activities you engage in to impress Him, you will not find favour in His sight. The words of 1st Samuel 15:22 are very clear: “…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
8. Some time ago, at a gathering of God’s people at the Redemption Camp, I had to tell everyone there that if you know you are not genuinely saved by the blood of the Lamb, there is no need to give any offering to God. God will not accept the offerings of sinners. It is an abomination before Him (Proverbs 15:8).
9. Our lives must count for God first, before other things can follow suit.
10. God wants us to obey His voice and follow His word for our lives. He wants His children to all be true people who impact the lives of others positively.
11. Living a godly life is all that God desires from us.
12. When we live according to His standards, He will be pleased with all that we have to offer.
13. Morality and rituals cannot grant us access to the mercy of God.
14. Before the prodigal son could receive mercy, he had to come to his senses and amend his ways by going back to his father.
15. God is longing for those who will praise Him in spirit and in truth. He is desperate for those who will magnify Him not for what they can get from Him but for who He is.
16. Do you know that you can come before God with big offerings and yet stir up His anger? This will not be your lot in Jesus’ Name.
17. No amount of sacrifice from us can equal His sacrifice for us.
18. The scope of this sacrifice can be seen in these words of Romans 8:32: “He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also give us all things.”

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7‭-‬8 This scripture is deep and should be remembered as we go about our Christian work. “Our lives must count for God first, before other things can follow suit.” God sees and knows all things and so we should live daily with the consciousness of this fact. May we never be casted away in Jesus name. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
Obedience is better than sacrifice
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 

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20

Memorise: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2nd Corinthians 9:7
Read: Genesis: 4:1-7
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Bible in one year: 2nd Corinthians 11-13, Daniel 7:13-28

1. When it comes to the issue of giving, we are not only expected to do what is required but also what is commanded by the Almighty God.
2. No matter how much you give in church, or how much you give to different causes in God’s Kingdom, you can never out-give God.
3. God is more interested in the attitude with which you give than in what you give.
4. He knows to what extent He has blessed you, and He expects your acts of giving to reflect this.
5. Each time we sow, God allows our seed to multiply.
6. Since I have been giving God, I have never known a better yesterday, because God is always doing something new in my life.
7. I always pity those who do not give to God. This is foolishness, because there is nothing you have today that you have not received from God.
8. At the table of the Almighty set before you, you are permitted to take what you want and as much as you want (Psalm 23:5).
9. There is no scarcity in Heaven, and this is why God had promised to open the windows of heaven to pour out a blessing on those who obey His commandments concerning tithes, offerings, and sowing to kingdom assignments and charities.
10. Your acts of giving must be done cheerfully and not grudgingly.
11. In today’s Bible reading, Abel’s sacrifice was accepted while that of Cain was rejected. Why did this happen? Abel brought his sacrifice to God with joy, thankfulness and with great expectation. He brought his offering with an upright heart, and he also offered a sacrifice that was well pleasing to God.
12. When people are not sincere with God, it doesn’t matter how many sermons they have listened to, or how many hours they have spent in the place of prayer, things will still always go wrong with them.
13. God was not pleased with Cain’s sacrifice because his heart was not right before Him. Cain was envious of his brother’s blessings and he failed to focus on his own heart. May your sacrifice not be rejected before God in Jesus’ Name. Cain was a wicked man, operating under the influence of the flesh; therefore, his sacrifice was an abomination before God. Proverbs 15:8 says, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
14. If a tree is good, its fruits will be good.
15. God is interested in the fruits we bear. Abel was careful in the choice of his sacrifice. He intentionally used the best of his flock because he understood that if you give your best to God, He will in turn give His best to you.
16. Endeavour to always give the best of your life to God, and see how He will respond.

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 2 Samuel 24:24. David understood that our God is worthy of the best and he gave his best. He in turn got God’s attention and love. This is what every believer should do. We should give to God outside our convenient zone and watch Him bless us mightily. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Offer the best of your time and the best of your service to God today.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
 

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20

Memorise: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
Read: Ezekiel 33:1-6
1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Bible in one year: 2nd Corinthians 4-7, Daniel 6:14-28

1. Humanity is perishing every day because of sin. So many people are unaware of the truth of God’s word about the consequences of sin, and some who know this truth are drawing back from it.
2. Due to the pervasiveness of iniquity in the world today, those who used to be very hot for the Lord are now cooling off in the flesh, while some have even departed from the faith completely. The irony of it all is that the Church is behaving as if all is well.
3. The world is blind and needs to know about God.
4. As God’s watchman, you are the light of the world. You are a city set on a hill, and you are the salt of the earth. However, are you measuring up to God’s expectation in the area of your responsibilities towards the great commission? How many sinners have you spoken to about the consequences of their actions? How many souls have you followed up this year?
5. Many believers who are supposed to be God’s watchmen are now complacent; they are no longer aware of what the Spirit is saying.
6. Today, there is so much religion without the visible demonstration of the power of the Holy Ghost.
7. It is only through salvation in Jesus that there can be restoration of life to those dying in sin. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is for the purpose of going into all parts of the world to effect the deliverance of all those held captive by Satan (Acts 1:8)
8. As God’s watchman, you cannot afford to remain empty spiritually. You must be fruitful (John 15:16).
9. We need to wake up and start bearing fruit if we do not want to be condemned.
10. Most of the things happening around us today that have become a threat to the Body of Christ are happening because we are not doing what God expects of us.
11. If we preach the true gospel as handed over to us by the apostles of old, the Church of God today will be more vibrant, healthier and spiritually active.
12. If you will be equipped for the great assignment of the great commission, you need to avoid falling into the sin of covetousness, pride, self-centeredness, love of money, and ambition for power.
13. We need to go to God in prayer and ask for His fire to be released upon our hearts, so that we can recover lost grounds.
14. To God’s watchmen, He is saying return to the great commission.
15. The great commission is God’s ultimate assignment and it entails transforming people from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, through the power of Holy Ghost.
16. Let the gospel be preached to all people in all places.
17. If there are places you can’t go yourself, make arrangements to send other there to do the work.
18. The gospel of reconciliation is a message of universal concern, and we can all make a difference as we play our part.

This kind of message has been consistent in few weeks and we must not disregard the truth. The main assignment for every believer is to intensify efforts by going out there to preach the gospel to the lost souls. It’s obvious that soul are perishing daily, many are in darkness without means of getting freedom, but as God’s watchman, reconciling these souls should be a duty for us. The Bible says “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:18‬. May the Lord help us to be true watchman reconciling the lost souls back to the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me to play my role in Your Kingdom agenda.
HYMN
1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 
in a believer’s ear! 
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, 
and drives away our fear. 
2 It makes the wounded spirit whole 
and calms the troubled breast; 
’tis manna to the hungry soul, 
and to the weary, rest. 
3 O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend, 
my Prophet, Priest, and King, 
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, 
accept the praise I bring. 
4 How weak the effort of my heart, 
how cold my warmest thought; 
but when I see you as you are, 
I’ll praise you as I ought. 
5 Till then I would your love proclaim 
with every fleeting breath; 
and may the music of your name 
refresh my soul in death. 
                                                     

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20

Memorise: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12
Read: Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Bible in one year: 2nd Corinthians 1-3, Daniel 5:29-6:13

1. Children are assets of the Almighty God entrusted to our care. We must therefore ensure that we do all we can to nurture them for the Lord and not for ourselves.
2. We should strive to receive commendation from the Lord for our efforts in bringing them up as children He can be proud of.
3. Raising children in today’s world is serious business. Unfortunately, we live in a world where parents have left to chance or entirely neglected the huge tasking of bringing up their children in the fear of the Lord.
4. Many parents justify themselves by concluding that they are helpless, and they shift the blame of their own failures to the happenings in the society.
5. In the time of father Abraham, there were also parents who did not bring up their children to follow the path of God, but for Abraham, his testimony was different. God said this concerning him in Genesis 18:19: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
6. If you want to raise children who will be obedient to the Lord, you must be ready to start right from the beginning of the child’s life. That is what parenting is all about. It involves training and educating a child from the phase of infancy through to adulthood.
7. If you carry out the job of parenting as unto the Lord, you will be well rewarded by Him.
8. There are many parents who realise late in life that they have neglected their roles as parents. In order to make amends, some of them begin to make efforts at “repairing” the lives of their children, but at that point, they discover it has become a herculean task.
9. Obedient children are godly children, committed to a life of honesty in all they do. Such children will never bring shame, reproach or embarrassment to the God of their fathers, because they have a deep understanding of the covenant upon which they have been groomed.
10. There are parents today who have lost control of their children. Some other parents have turned their children into symbols of idolatry. They fear their children more than they fear God. May that not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
11. Obedient children must honour their parents. They must respect them irrespective of their status in society, if they want to live a life without regret. When their parents need their attention or help, they must be there for them. They must also be ready to submit willfully to their instructions, corrections and rebuke.
12. There are children who bring sorrow to their parents. On the other hand, children of destiny bring great comfort to everyone around them.
13. Are you a child of destiny?

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 Training up a child in the way of the Lord is the best way any parent can choose to bring up their children. It is of great value both on earth and in heaven for the child. The parent also will not only enjoy peace of mind and joy over the child but will also be rewarded for great and good grooming of the child by God. We should stop giving excuses and stand to the responsibility of bringing up our children the godly way. May God strengthen and help us to bring up obedient children in Jesus name. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that may he wax stronger in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, let my children please You always, and grant me grace to care for my parents.
HYMN
1 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, 
Homes where the Master’s will is sought, 
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
2 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the father is true and strong, 
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, 
Homes that are joyous with love and song; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
3 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the mother, in caring quest, 
Strives to show others Your way is best, 
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
4 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the children are led to know 
Christ in His beauty who loves them so, 
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes!

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20

Memorise: A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13
Read: Matthew 14:23-27
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Bible in one year: 1st Corinthians 15-16, Daniel 5:13-28

1. The message in today’s memory verse is food for thought for those children of God who think that being sorrowful or morose is a Christian virtue.
2. A gloomy spirit is of the devil, who wants us to be in sorrow continually. In contrast to this, God wants all His children to be happy.
3. The Holy Spirit in Isaiah 61:3 said that God gives joy to the sorrowful: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
4. The Lord Jesus Christ, who came to demonstrate the nature and the character of God, read the above scripture in a synagogue on a certain day, and He declared: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:21b By this declaration, as a child of God, you should not live in sorrow any more.
5. All through the course of Jesus’ earthly ministry, one statement that was common with Him was, “Be of good cheer”. In other words, “Have a merry heart”.
6. He continually said this because He knew that a merry heart results in a smiling face and is like medicine to the body and soul (Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 17:22). For example, John 16:33, Jesus told the disciples to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world. This means that, as children of God, we should not go about in life wearing a sorrowful face in self-pity – not even when we are confronted with the challenges of life.
7. In the story of the man afflicted with the palsy, Jesus told him to be of good cheer because his sins were forgiven (Matthew 9:2). In other words, “Son, although your sins brought this sickness to your life, you are now forgiven, and you are made whole.”
8. I prophesy to you today, irrespective of the agonising condition your past life has brought into your present, the Lord will redeem you today. You are forgiven by the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and you will be happy again in Jesus’ Name.
9. In today’s Bible reading, the disciples were in the midst of the sea and its waves tossed them here and there. In the midst of palpable fear and despair, Jesus came to them and rebuked their faithlessness, before rebuking the destructive wind. He then encouraged them to be of good cheer.
10. In like manner, the Lord is speaking to you today that you will not drown in that situation.
11. Be cheerful because Emmanuel is with you. Your joy shall come, and it shall come in full measure in Jesus’ Name.

The joy of the Lord gives strength even in the face of raging storm. Believers should know that the end result of every trial they are faced with is victory. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33. When God says it, believe it and that settles it. May God continually uphold Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, flood my heart with unspeakable joy today and for ever more.
HYMN
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favour,
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy, still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.
3 We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
‘All, all is well.’
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.

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Memorise: All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. Proverbs 19:7
Read: 1st Chronicles 4:9-10
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
Bible in one year: 1st Corinthians 12-14, Daniel 5:1-12

1. Having tasted poverty and a little bit of wealth, I can tell you that wealth is better than poverty.
2. If you are living in poverty, I prophesy over you that God will lift you out of poverty in Jesus’ Name.
3. One of the reasons why I hate poverty so much is because of what Proverbs 14:20 says about the poor: “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.”
4. In today’s Bible reading, we are introduced to a Bible hero who experienced poverty, but who was not hypocritical about his undesirable condition. This fellow was Jabez. His mother named him Jabez because she gave birth to him with sorrow. As Jabez grew up, he started experiencing the meaning of his name, and so, he decided to do something about it.
5. It is unfortunate that many people, even some children of God, bear names with negative meanings and connotations, and yet they refuse to do something about it, even after they start sensing the negative influence of such names on their lives. My prayer for you today is that the Almighty God will give you a name that will wipe away generational curses plaguing your life in Jesus’ Name.
6. What Jabez did to change his situation is a common thing that some people don’t consider necessary: he Prayed.
7. There are many lessons we can learn from the life of Jabez, the first of which is that Jabez called on the God he knew was a prayer-answering God – the God of Israel. The question is, who are you calling upon? Psalm 5:3 clearly tells us who we should direct our prayers to: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
8. A second lesson to learn from Jabez is that he did not ask for a small blessing; rather, he prayed that God should bless him indeed.
9. Thirdly, he prayed that God would be with him in his prosperity and keep him from evil. It is an open secret that many rich people live in one calamity or the other. Jabez knew this, and so he prayed against riches that attract evil. What a great man who knew the ways of God!
10. If you want poverty to be history in your life, you have to do something about it. Jabez can be classified as someone who was destined to die in penury, but he prayed himself out of poverty and God heard him.
11. Jesus is the way out of poverty (2nd Corinthians 8:9).
12. The life that He gives and His principle will lift you out of poverty.
13. Therefore, give your life to Him without further delay today, and poverty shall become history in your life in Jesus’ Name.

The Bible affirms the intention of our maker concerning His own “If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.” Job‬ ‭36:11‬. Consequently, by divine purpose we are to live our days in abundance of blessings but devil has deceived many who have derailed from this heavenly arrangement. May the Lord restore all that have derailed from divine purpose in Jesus’ name. “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” Proverbs‬ ‭10:22‬ . May we always receive our blessings from God. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that God will equip him with greater wisdom for greater works in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please bless me indeed with Your blessing that adds no sorrow.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

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Memorise: Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1st Timothy 4:12
Read: 2nd Thessalonians 3:1-8
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
Bible in one year: 1st Corinthians 10-11, Daniel 4:28-37

1. Who are you?
2. If you are a child of God, then you must behave like God and reflect all that He represents.
3. God is love. He is pure and there is no darkness in Him. If you are a child of the devil, your life will be patterned after the devil. I am a branch of Jesus because I am permanently rooted in Him. What about you?
4. As a child of the Most-High God, you are expected to demonstrate His nature everywhere you find yourself. You are an ambassador of Jesus Christ, called to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light (1st Peter 2:9).
5. To be a representative of God to the world and a role model among believers, it is required of you to surrender yourself solely to Him. By so doing, you will be laying a good foundation for others to emulate.
6. In many churches today, their modus operandi is “do as I say” and not “do as I do”. This was not the example that the believers of old showed us. Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 11:1 boldly said: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” He saw himself as a worthy follower of Christ, and he was not ashamed to tell us to follow his footsteps.
7. As an ambassador of Christ, you have a mandate to fulfil for the Lord in this generation.
8. You have been positioned at such a time as this to be relevant in the scheme of things.
9. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood out from the crowd. They did not allow the privileges of royalty to deny them their place in God. They were role models for the world to see, and they did great exploits for God because they had an understanding of the times and season they lived in.
10. Do not engage in any despicable act that will cause men to despise your God. Do not engage in folly and a questionable lifestyle that will destroy what God has planned for you.
11. The world must know that you are a believer, not just in words but also through your deeds.
12. Let your life be an epistle for people to read. Do not do anything in secrecy that will tarnish your image, because the devil is going round looking for great soldiers in God’s battalion to discredit.
13. The devil will never go after those who have nothing to offer. He is after the “Esthers” because he wants to stop them before they get to the king’s palace. He is after the “Daniels” because he wants to stop them from being relevant in life and in governance. He is after the “Nehemiahs” because he can’t stand them rebuilding the broken walls of godliness.
14. To finish well, you must be resolute and determined.
15. Irrespective of the odds against you, you must push through, break barriers and fulfil your destiny in grand style.
16. Be a model of Christ to all men in word, in conversation, in love, in hospitality and in godliness

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:18-20‬ . The verses above confirm the main assignment we are committed to while here on earth. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
If you steadfastly take a stand for God, you will not fall by the wayside of life. 
HYMN
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. Refrain

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