Devotionals

MEMORISE:
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Mark 13:31

READ: 2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

MESSAGE:
The word of God is yea and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). Therefore, we should take note of all the futuristic sayings of Jesus Christ, because they shall surely come to pass. I have told the story of a mad man who daily used a cutlass to harass people into giving him food. His regular victims were market women. Brandishing his cutlass, he would ask “If you think I can’t cut off your head, and I do, what would you do?” The woman, in terror, would quickly give him some food and be on their way.

One day however, he came across a woman who replied, “I won’t give you anything today; you can do your worst”. In anger, the lunatic hit his cutlass on the woman’s head, but thankfully, only managed to chop off her ears. There was pandemonium throughout the market.

Beloved, if the lunatic made good his threat, what do you think of the integrity and words of the One who commanded the heaven and the earth to be and they were? When He said that the wages of sin is death in Romans 6:23, we had better believe it before it is too late. The reason is that He also said it is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

At times, children of God may want to prove to be more knowledgeable than their Heavenly Father, as in the case of the disciples and their spokesperson- Peter (Mark 14:30,31 and 72). It is interesting to note that Jesus had earlier said in Mark 13:31:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

The Lord spoke through His holy angels in Acts 1:11:
“…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Our attitude towards God’s demand for holiness will become positive if we believe that Jesus is coming back to judge both the living and the dead alike, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and Revelation 22:12. The certainty of the knowledge of Jesus’ second coming will help us stay in the path of righteousness, living a life that is holy and acceptable unto the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).

ACTION POINT:
Make up your mind that you will believe and live according to the word of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 42-46.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.

1. Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all,
hear me, blest Savior, when I call;
hear me, and from thy dwelling place
pour down the riches of thy grace.

Refrain:
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore;
O make me love thee more and more.

2. Jesus, too late I thee have sought;
how can I love thee as I ought?
And how extol thy matchless fame,
the glorious beauty of thy name?

3. Jesus, what didst thou find in me
that thou hast dealt so lovingly?
How great the joy that thou hast brought,
so far exceeding hope or thought!

4. Jesus, of thee shall be my song;
to thee my heart and soul belong;
all that I have or am is thine,
and thou, blest Savior, thou art mine.

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20

MEMORISE:
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

READ: MATTHEW 1:20-21

20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

MESSAGE

The memory verse of today declares the omnipotent nature of the name of the Lord. In the same verse lies an eternal truth: it says only the righteous can find safety in the name of the Lord. This same Bible however, tells us that none is righteous (Romans 3:10). How then can we access the saving power in the name of the Lord? We find the answer in our Bible reading of today. It says the way out of sin is through the name of Jesus Christ. This name is all-powerful, mighty to save from sin, sickness, poverty, demonic attack and death. Praise the Lord!

The Bible predicts a lot of calamities as we approach the second coming of the Lord. Joel 2:30-31 prophesied that the Lord will *..shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.*

Prophet Isaiah also spoke of the terrible things that would happen as we come closer to the end of the world (Isaiah 13:9). Beloved, the only way we can escape the end time calamities is through the name of Jesus. The name would however only work for you if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. To do this, you must acknowledge your sins, confess and repent of them. Thereafter, begin to put your trust in this name which Philippians 2:9-11 describes as:
*“..a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”*

Thus, it is your responsibility to cry to Jesus for mercy. Use the name of Jesus effectively as you begin to live a life of holiness and perfect obedience to God. By so doing, you would avoid being a victim of the terrible happenings in these last days. Our God is full of tender mercies and loving kindness (Psalms 103:4). He says in Joel 2:32
*“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered…” *
Call on Him today and be saved.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please deliver me from every end time calamity, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 37-41

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN
ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS NAME!

1. All hail the power of Jesus Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him Lord of all.

2. Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre,
and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir,
and crown Him Lord of all
Before His face Who tunes their choir,
and crown Him Lord of all.

3. Crown Him, ye morning stars of light,
Who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israels might,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israels might,
and crown Him Lord of all.

4. Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesses Rod,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesses Rod,
and crown Him Lord of all.

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MEMORISE:
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8

READ: Deuteronomy 28:1-14
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

MESSAGE:
If God talked about good success in Joshua 1:8, then this implies that there is bad success. As God gives good success, the devil also can give the bad kind. In Matthew 4:8-10, the devil showed Jesus Christ the glory of this world and asked Jesus to worship him, promising that he could give Him all the glories of this world. Thank God our Lord Jesus Christ will never worship the devil. It is unfortunate however that many of His children are turning to worship the devil in exchange for success today. Many people indulge in crime, money rituals, and so on to achieve success. That is bad success- success from the devil. This is the type that comes with sorrows (Matthew 16:26).

When you get good success, God will make you rich materially, as well as emotionally, spiritually, maritally, psychologically, and mentally. I don’t know about you, but as for me I want the kind of success that God gives. I will tell you why many people do not choose God’s path to success: they believe God’s way is difficult and the devil’s is easier, but Proverbs 14:12 tells us:
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

What the devil gives you will eventually fade away and will not be void of troubles; only what God gives will last, give you peace of mind, and keep you holy (Proverbs 10:22, 1 john 2:15-17).

Joseph enjoyed good success. He was a slave, yet the Bible says he was successful, because God was with him (Genesis 39:2). Daniel was a captive in the land of Babylon, yet he was made the chief of the governor over all the wise men in that empire because he was a man who feared God (Daniel 2:48). Josiah was just eight years old when he became king (2 kings 22:1). As long as he obeyed God, his reign was successful. King Saul, on the other hand, wanted the success that the world gives; he wanted to be praised by men and to build earthly monuments for himself. His end was destruction. Beloved, I don’t want you to desire the success that the world gives, which only brings you happiness for the moment; instead, desire the success that god gives.

Joshua 1: 8 says that when you obey the word of God, good success is guaranteed. This is the type of success that come without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).

Choose wisely.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please bless me with all-round success that comes from You alone, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 32-36.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: I’VE A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD, HALLELUYAH.

1. I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!
This message unto you I’ll give,
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

o Refrain:
“Look and live,” my brother, live,
Look to Jesus now, and live;
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

2. I’ve a message full of love, hallelujah!
A message, O my friend, for you,
’Tis a message from above, hallelujah!
Jesus said it, and I know ’tis true.

3. Life is offered unto you, hallelujah!
Eternal life thy soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, hallelujah!
Look to Jesus who alone can save.

4. I will tell you how I came, hallelujah!
To Jesus when He made me whole—
’Twas believing on His name, hallelujah!
I trusted and He saved my soul

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MEMORISE:
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8

READ: Proverbs 23:1-8.
1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

MESSAGE:
While it is true that the Bible describes alcohol as a mocker, it is not the only thing that can arouse a deadly appetite; food can and has done great havoc to the destinies of many people in history. The story of Esau and the red pottage with which he exchanged his birthright is a case in point (Hebrews 12:16). The Bible says:
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” Proverbs 23:20-21

In the Bible reading of today we are advised to be cautious when we are confronted with delicacies. Some classic examples of people who understood this principle were Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. According to Daniel 1:8, they purposed in their hearts not to allow themselves to be carried away by the delicacies of the king so that they would not forget where they were coming from and where they were going. It takes self-discipline not to be a glutton, especially in the time of need. You should not allow your enemies to know when you are hungry or else, they can seize the opportunity to attack you.

The Bible says:
“Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.”
Proverbs 25:16-17

While the Bible does ask us to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15), we should beware of excessive eating. Indeed, Proverbs 23:2 says that if you know that you have a large appetite and like to eat, when you feel tempted to succumb to gluttony, hold yourself back as though someone were pointing a knife at your neck to restrain you.

Apostle Paul’s statement about subduing the body (1 Corinthians 9:27) is not restricted to sexual immorality and alcohol consumption, but also excessive food intake. A word is enough for the wise.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please don’t allow my appetite to destroy my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 27-31.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: TAKE MY LIFE AND DLET IT BE.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless 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.

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r 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.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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20

MEMORISE:
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1

READ: Proverbs 31:1-5.
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

MESSAGE:
In spite of the evil of strong drinks, it is unfortunate that many self-acclaimed children of God are now introducing ‘moderation’ to its consumption. This is one of the signs of the end time, which they themselves teach but fail to acknowledge that they are victims of.

Our memory verse today describes wine as a mocker and strong drink as raging. A classic example of a victim of wine was Noah. The Bible says:
“And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.” Genesis 9:20-21

Ordinarily, Noah the just man who found grace in the sight of God would not have gone naked but for the influence of the wine on him. Little wonder Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12:
“… all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

Noah was indeed mocked by the wine and likewise many others like him. Why would anyone want to keep indulging in a habit that is sure to ultimately destroy him or her?

Proverbs 31:4 also clearly states that alcohol is not meant to be consumed by kings and princes.

This Bible verse shows that Christians as kings under the King of kings must not consume alcoholic drinks, in order to be in our right minds at all times.
“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.”

You cannot afford to be a friend of alcohol unless you are ready to perish.

May the Lord remove every deadly appetite for alcoholic drinks from any reader of this devotional still indulging in the habit, today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Anytime a drink is handed to you for consumption, ensure it contains no alcohol so you do not befriend a mocker that can destroy you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 22-26.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY STAIN?

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

o Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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20

MEMORISE:
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. Psalm 116:5

READ: James 1:13-15.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

MESSAGE:
Today’s Bible reading clears the erroneous assumption that God experiments with temptations on His children. God does no evil, therefore, if you are His child and are going through temptations, you need to look inward.

We are comforted by God’s promises that He will help His children in the face of temptations. For example, 1 Peter 5:10 says:
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Beloved, it is grace that saves us from the condemnation of lust, which lures people into diverse temptations. This is why the Bible encourages us to be sober. A life of flamboyance brings snares and temptations. The story of David and Bathsheba is a classic example. Davis stayed back in his palace at a time when kings usually went forth to battle, thus, he beheld what he should not have- a very beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 11:1-5). This same David asked in Psalm 13:1 “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?…”

God is not forgetful. If like David, you too have been dragged into sin, God is able to forgive you if you confess and repent (Proverbs 28:13). Until you do so, it may seem as if God have forgotten you, but that is not the case. It could be assumed that the sincere cry of the Psalmist to God and his self-examination brought back the reality of God’s love to him. He trusted the mercy of God when he repented, and his testimony was:
“I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:6

I can assure you that God has not forgotten you. If you have erred from the narrow path, He may simply be waiting for you to come back to Him. You have to come in genuine repentance and embrace His love, through His Son Jesus Christ. When you do this today, you will see how near the Almighty God is to you, and how concerned He is about your wellbeing.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, forgive my foolishness for every time I thought You had forgotten me. Help me Lord, to remove every barrier of sin that may have separated me from Your love, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 17-21.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

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MEMORISE:
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Proverbs 17:1

READ: 1 Timothy 6:6-11.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

MESSAGE:
One value lacking in many 21st Century Christians is commitment, and this affects godliness as well. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Unfortunately, many Christians these days are living in a constant state of discontent. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says no amount of money can satisfy those who love riches. Moreover, the more material things you acquire, the more responsibility you have to maintain them. Many rich people cannot sleep well because they are too conscious of those who might steal from them.

I am sure you can point to numerous people who are enriching themselves illegitimately, acquiring ill-gotten wealth. There are people who loot the treasury of their counties, carting away billions into foreign bank accounts. What good have these billions done to their physical bodies, not to talk of their souls? It is pure vexation of the spirit, according to king Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:14. However, a laborer who has contentment always has a good appetite to eat the modest food available and sleeps like a baby after the day’s work, whereas the rich without contentment will not sleep- thinking of how to accumulate more riches and what to do to preserve it. This is why many of such people are chronically stingy- suspecting everyone around them to be a cheat. A rich man in a city in Nigeria wanted to give me all his houses so that I would pray for him to be able to sleep. I told him to keep his houses because my sleep is more important to me than a thousand houses that were built with ill-gotten wealth.

Do you want to enjoy life in abundance? Seek the Lord today. He said:
“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

A person who is content is the richest fellow in the whole world. You can become content if you are godly. To be godly is to be compliant with the dictates of the unchanging word of God.

It is good to be ambitious, to want bigger and better things for yourself. However, be careful not to desire material prosperity at the expense of your spiritual growth.

ACTION POINT:
Father, please give me godliness and its twin- contentment, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 12-16.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING.

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

o Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

5. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

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20

MEMORISE:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

READ: Philippians 1:12-21.
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

MESSAGE:
Whereas man does not have a way of getting solutions to his problems, God has uncountable ways of solving all of them. We have the assurance that God is able to bring good out of every problem of our life. Our memory verse today clearly tells us that all things have been designed to work together for the good of those who love God and are aligned with His purpose.

It takes the eye of faith to come to terms with the Scripture above. In chains, Apostle Paul was being moved from one place to another as a criminal under trial. Despite this, he sorts every opportunity to preach the gospel everywhere he went. In Acts 24 & 25, he addressed three different important personalities, namely Felix, Festus and King Agrippa. It was king Agrippa who said to Paul “…Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28). Paul then said:
“…I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Acts 26:29

This is a level all children of God must reach if we would enjoy our walk with God. This same truth helped Joseph to stay true to his God even in the midst of his trials in Potiphar’s house and wrongful imprisonment (Genesis 39). Even when he had the opportunity to take his revenge upon his brothers after his father’s passing, he told them:
“…Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:19-20

In all these, we must learn that challenges cannot be a hinderance if God is with us; rather, they would be stepping stones to the glorious and expected end God has prepared for us.

I pray that all hinderances on your way to success will become stepping stones to your breakthrough, in Jesus’ name. You are more than a conqueror!

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I command all hindering mountains in my life to give way today as I move into my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 1-6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY.

1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

o Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

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MEMORISE:
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1

READ: Proverbs 11:1-4.
1A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

MESSAGE:
Profiteering- the act of making excessive and unfair profit usually through illegal means is considered as wickedness before God. Profiteering involves taking undue advantage of others. You may not know the havoc you are wreaking on humanity until God opens your eyes to see that both the services and goods you are charging exorbitantly for are not affordable by those who need them for survival. Many people profiteer because they want to make excessive profits and enrich themselves with worldly possessions. They have lost sight of Proverbs 13:11 which says:
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”

Proverbs 13:22 also says “….the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”

It is tantamount to slavery when people work for you and you deny them their wages or tactically delay their pay. God will punish such people because they have been unfaithful. James 5:4 says:
“the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”

The Scripture above expresses the mind of God about profiteering. Consider the lives of those who have gathered wealth illegally just to leave an inheritance for their children. In many cases, even in their lifetime, their children sell property bought with these looted funds to the children of those they have defrauded. We have heard the stories of children of laborers purchasing the property of their fathers’ masters when the Lord of Sabaoth caused wealth to change hands. Truly, the treasures of wickedness will never bring profit (Proverbs 10:2).

Beloved, remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Luke 12:15 and be wise. Wealth does not guarantee satisfaction, joy, peace and security. It is foolishness to run after wealth mindlessly. Godliness with contentment is what brings great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please deliver my soul from greed. Let me never chase after uncertain riches, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Peter.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Had I but Mary’s sinless heart
To love thee with, my dearest King,
Oh, with what bursts of fervant praise
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all,
O mystery of love divine.
I cannot compass all I have,
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

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MEMORISE:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

READ: Matthew 22:35-38.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

MESSAGE:
God wants you to be totally His. The Lord says in Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” There should be nothing standing between you and God. You shouldn’t also allow anyone, or anything take His place in your life. God must be your all in all.

Beloved, you cannot claim to truly love God with all your heart, soul, and mind if anyone or anything is more important than Him in your life. Jesus Christ described our memory verse today as the “first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:38). It would hence amount to disobedience if you do not fulfil this commandment and every transgression of God’s commandment is sin (1 John 3:4). This then means that loving God with all our heart, soul and mind is not optional but compulsory for all His children.

You must therefore not set your heart on material things of this life if you would please God. The bible says:
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:9-10

The Lord Jesus Christ further said:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Acknowledge the supremacy and excellency of the Almighty God- the Lord of the heavens and the earth at all times and in all you do.

Beloved, God desires that you should set your heart, soul and mind on Him alone. This is the only way to be truly godly and to serve Him acceptably. Every form of worldliness will eventually produce sin, therefore, godliness and commitment must become your watchword (1 Timothy 6:6).

May your service be acceptable to Him from today in Jesus’ name.

ACTION POINT:
Determine TO LOVE God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Peter.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Had I but Mary’s sinless heart
To love thee with, my dearest King,
Oh, with what bursts of fervant praise
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all,
O mystery of love divine.
I cannot compass all I have,
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

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