Devotionals

MEMORISE:
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

READ: Amos 6:1

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

MESSAGE
To mourn is to be grieved by an occurrence. It means to be so concerned about something that deeply affects your emotions. Jesus in our memory verse today is saying that mourners are blessed. Are you a mourner? Are you grieved by the state of things in this world or are you indifferent? Sin is becoming normal in our world today and it is unthinkable that anyone will not mourn about this. Even the Church is now striving hard to be like the world. Didn’t the Bible say “Be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17)? Do you mourn for the next generation? Social Media has exposed our children to all sorts of perversion these days and even teenagers are now well versed in sexual activities. Do you mourn that thousands are dying due to religious wars, and even little children are now being used as suicide bombers? Do you mourn for the state of things in this world? Psalm 34:18 has this to say:

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

If you are a mourner, what are you doing to make things better? How many souls have you preached to in the last one week? How many teenagers do you mentor, whether physically or virtually? Are you pursuing a political position so that you can make a change in your own way? At my age, I travel all over the world, trying to get as many people as I can to see the love of Jesus and accept Him into their lives. Today, I see many men of God, younger and stronger than I am, enjoying the comfort of their cities and the privileges of being the “man of God” when souls are perishing! I weep for this generation, not just because of those doing evil, but because of the indifference of Christians who should be making a change.

The encouragement is that Jesus said those of us who mourn will be comforted. I wish we could have more mourners in this generation.

Do not be one of those who are at ease in Zion.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, deliver this generation from the corruption of the devil in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 40-42

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.
Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
E’en tho’ 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.

Tho’ like a wanderer,
The sun gone down, darkness be 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.

Then let the way appear, steps up to heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given; angels to beckon me,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee…

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MEMORISE:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

READ: Psalm 42:1-2

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

MESSAGE

To be poor in Spirit does not mean to lack Spirituality as many people think. Being poor is a state of mind. When a person is poor in Spirit, the fellow is hungry for the Spirit of God. Our memory verse says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To be poor in Spirit means that no matter how much you have grown spiritually, you still pant and yearn for more of God’s Spirit in you. Some people attain certain spiritual heights and begin to call themselves spiritual giants. The moment you start feeling like a giant in the things of God, your decline begins. Once I prayed for thirty-six hours non-stop, taking only bathroom breaks. I was feeling very good, believing that I had attained a great height spiritually. The next week, God arranged for me to hear of someone who prayed for thirty-two days non-stop. I was humbled. No matter how much you have done, you must still see yourself as a spiritual baby. Only babies depend *on* their parents for food; once you are a spiritual adult, then you are telling God “Don’t worry, Lord, I can take care of myself” and He will leave you.

Those who are not poor in Spirit enter into the trap of the devil. I remember visiting a country once and my host told me about a great man of God who came to minister sometime in the past. He said the power of God manifested mightily at the crusade so much so that dead persons kilometers away from the programme venue were raised and the sick were healed. Unfortunately, this man of God relaxed and stopped recharging his spiritual batteries. His end was not good at all.

You should be panting for His word and presence more than ever before. If you are not growing, then you are dying. If you used to come early to Church but now go late, your hunger for Him has reduced. If you used to pray one hour every day when you became born again and you still do same now, where is your growth? You need to get hungry for God.

ACTION POINT:

Reflect deeply and write down ways in which your hunger for God has waned. Begin to make amends from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 40-42

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.
Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
E’en tho’ 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.

Tho’ like a wanderer,
The sun gone down, darkness be 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.

Then let the way appear, steps up to heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given; angels to beckon me,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee…

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MEMORISE:
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. Jeremiah 17:5

READ: Jeremiah 17:5-8

5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

MESSAGE

Anyone who puts his trust in people is bound to get disappointed. People are often unpredictable and not always in control of their own feelings. No matter how much integrity a person has built up, certain situations may make it impossible for such a person to do as they earlier promised. This is one leaason I learnt the hard way, especially when I became the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Another reason it is difficult to trust people is that a lot of people are not really who they portray themselves to be, in the little time that I have spent on this earth, I have come across many great pretenders who pretend so well that if not for the Holy Spirit, you can never know who they truly are on the inside.

Thus, the Bible says in Psalm 118:8:
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

Believe me, no one can be trusted except God. You think your Special Assistant can be trusted? Wait until things begin to get heated up and you would see another side of that same loyal servant. I laugh when I see wealthy men who put so much trust in their bodyguards. How much can you pay a man with a family at home for him to take a bullet for you? You trust your accountant with your money? Fine, but let’s pray the fellow never disappoints you.

Our God is a jealous God and the moment He sees that you trust someone so much, He finds a way to reveal the weakness of the fellow and then you realize that the person cannot be trusted. Instead of trusting people, trust the grace of God on their lives. This way, you acknowledge that the only way they would not misbehave is by the grace of God. When God sees that you recognize it is only by His grace that a fellow will not disappoint you, then He will make that grace available. Put your trust in God alone.

ACTION POINT:

Trust the grace of God on people and not the people themselves. God alone is trustworthy.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 35-37

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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MEMORISE:

For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. Genesis 13:15

READ: Genesis 13:14-18

14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

MESSAGE

Years ago, I had some work to do abroad. I finished three days ahead of schedule, but my flight booking was the kind that could not be changed, so I had to wait for the next three days. I however had a challenge: I had run out of money but wanted to buy some books and tapes. So, I told God “Lord, it would be nice if I could get E50.” Before long the phone rang. Although it was a wrong number the fellow called, we got talking. When he discovered I was Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, he called his brother and within the next few hours, they were at my place. When they were leaving, they gave me E50.

I said “Lord, if I had known I would be that easy to get E50, I would have asked for another E50.” Shortly after that, I heard a knock on the door and when I got there, I met an envelope with E50 and a note from a rich man who had never given me anything before, saying “I just felt like giving you E50.” So again, I said, “Lord, I I had known it would be this easy to get another E50, I would have asked for more E50 more.” Before long, another E50 came and then I became afraid. Recently, God reminded me of this story and told me “If I could provide E50 so easily, why didn’t you ask for E5,000,000?” I realized the how I had seriously short-changed myself.

Oftentimes when you are celebrating the things that you have, God looks at you, wishing you had envisioned more. I remember thanking God for the old auditorium and calling it a lifetime achievement. He shut me up and said “That is the children auditorium.” Today, we are in a 3km by 3km auditorium by His grace and we are just starting. Beloved, no matter how blessed you are, God has more for you, if only your mind can believe it. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says:

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

ACTION POINT:

Write down your goals for this year, then scale them up by at least 100%. Present then to God and tell Him “Lord, this is what I want.”

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 32-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

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;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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MEMORISE:
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

READ: Matthew 7:7-11

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

MESSAGE

Very long time ago, there was a wealthy but stingy man. Whenever his relatives came to ask him for money, he would tell them to go and work for theirs as he worked hard for his. But then, he loved children dearly. He could not refuse a child’s request. His family members discovered this and started to use it against him. Whenever they wanted anything, they would teach their children to make the requests and the rich man would give the children everything they asked for. One day, a relative visited with her child whom she had coached, but when the rich man turned to the child to ask “My dear, what do you want me to give you? The girl said “cookies.” The rich man knew that the child was not asking as taught, so he pretended not to hear, and went into his bedroom to give the mother a chance to teach her child again. The mother told the child to ask for land, money and cars. But when the rich man came out again and asked: “My dear, what do you want?” The child said “Cookies.” That day, the child and her mother went back home with cookies even though the rich man had been willing to give a whole lot more than that.

This is the situation with many Christians today. You have a Father who loves you so much and has promised to attend to all your requests. He just cannot say “No” to any of your requests, yet you ask for small things. Romans 8:32 says it expressly that if He gave His Son’s life for us, then what else could be too big for Him to give? John 15:7 says that as long as you are a true Christian, your will is His command.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

From today, instead of asking Him for transport fare, ask Him for your own chauffeur-driven car. Instead of asking for house rent, ask him for a mansion in the most expensive area of your city. He said whatever you ask for, He will give you. If you keep asking for transport fare, that’s probably all you will get.

KEY POINT:

God owns Everything in Heaven and on earth. Stop asking Him for mere cookies.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 29-31

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.
Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
E’en tho’ 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.

Tho’ like a wanderer,
The sun gone down, darkness be 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.

Then let the way appear, steps up to heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given; angels to beckon me,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee…

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MEMORISE:
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14

READ: Matthew 7:7-11

7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

MESSAGE

You would most likely be required to book an appointment if you want to see a great person. If you are lucky to get that appointment and finally get to see him/her you must be brief because if you are not quick enough, he/she could leave you and move to something else. Great people of this world can be like that, but my Jesus, in spite of being the greatest of all, is different. He listens.

Jesus is really busy; in spite of this, the moment He hears the voice of any of His children, He stops everything else He is doing and pays rapt attention to you like He did for Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. One thing that gives me joy is not just that He stops everything else that He is doing to listen to me, but that He listens to me alone at that particular time. Jesus could have asked all the blind people around that place to come together since He was about to heal the blind, but He called only Bartimaeus.

I want you to know that Jesus is never too busy to listen to you and you alone. The problem is that most of us don’t call on Him. These days, we talk more about prayers than we actually pray. He is gentle. He will not come into your situation uninvited. He saw that Bartimaeus was blind, yet He asked him what he wanted; He knew the history of the man at the pool of Bethesda yet He asked him if he wanted to be whole. A song writer said ” _O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer._” Take everything to Him in prayer. Many times, we worry about our problems and complain, forgetting to mention them to God; no wonder they linger. Psalm 34:15 tells us:

“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

Are you feeling discouraged and depressed? Talk to Jesus. Are you anxious about something? Talk to Jesus. Are you experiencing a strong temptation that you might fall? Talk to Jesus. He will leave everything else to listen to you; just talk to Him now.

ACTION POINT:
Go before Jesus now and pour out your heart to Him. He will listen to you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 24-28

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 20: Nearer, my God to Thee

1. 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, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

2. Though, like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send’st to me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

4. Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony grief
Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee!

5. Or if on joyful wing
Cleaving thy sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upwards I fly
Still all my songs shall be,
Nearer my God to Thee, (2ce)
Nearer to Thee! I’m

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MEMORISE:
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28

READ: Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

MESSAGE

When we talk about addiction, it is not only a matter of hard drugs. Anger is also something that many people find difficult to control in their lives. The Bible says those who don’t have control over their anger are in the same category as those who say there is no God; they are all fools.

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9

Another seemingly subtle addiction that needs to be controlled is lust. For some men, a lady cannot pass by without them feasting on her body with their eyes. Lust is dangerous as it is equal to adultery and Proverbs 6:26 says adultery will reduce the value of any man to a piece of bread.

Yet another one that needs to be controlled is inordinate ambition. It is good to be ambitious, but having so much ambition that it takes over your mind and your walk with God is dangerous. If you want a promotion so badly that you are willing to commit sin to get it, you need to put your ambition in check. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20 that treasures stored on earth will be destroyed or stolen but if you store up your treasures in heaven, if your ambitions are heaven-related, then you are on the right track. Your spending also needs to be controlled. Many people cannot keep money for a long time. As they get, they spend it. This attitude tends to poverty and must be controlled. Proverbs 21:20 says:

“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.”

Many cannot control how much time they spend on social media. Whenever they pick up their phone, they can be on social media for the next one hour even when they have very important things to do. When they wake up in the morning, instead of praying, the first thing they pick up is their phone. Whatever you cannot control in your life is controlling you. Keep your body under subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, give me grace to put everything that should be controlled in my life under control.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Job 21-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.

3. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. 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.

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MEMORISE:

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

READ: Mark 16:17-20

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.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

MESSAGE:

According to Acts 1:8, the moment you are baptized with the Holy Ghost, you have received power. But as we learnt yesterday, you need to go beyond the level of power to the level of authority. However, authority will only come when you go out to witness. That is why in Mark 16:17, Jesus said “And these signs shall follow…..” In other words, if you stay in one place- you won’t exhibit the signs, but if you go out to witness- the signs will follow you. Acts 10:38 says:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Although Jesus had been anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power, He did not stop there; He “went about” and because He did, He was able to heal all that were oppressed of the devil.

Peter and John were amongst the seventy disciples that Jesus sent out on evangelism in Luke 10. While they had been unable to cast out demons before then, by the time they went out preaching the gospel and returned, the demons had become subject to them (Luke 10:17). Still they did not understand the secret of this authority they had over demons, so they stopped evangelizing. It was on the resumption of their evangelistic activities, after Jesus had left them, that they were able to make the lame man at the Beautiful Gate walk.

Many Christians pray that they should also be able to heal the sick and raise the dead, but God is wondering why. They don’t go out to witness, not even in their office or to their neighbors, so why do they need signs and wonders? The signs are for unbelievers to believe (John 4:48) so if you are not ready to witness to them, please forget about signs and wonders. They are reserved strictly for those who witness for Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:

Go and preach the gospel.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 14-16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.
1. All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

3. All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

5. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

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MEMORISE:
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28

READ: Luke 10:19-21

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

MESSAGE:

In science, we learnt that power is the ability to do work. It is the ability to get things done. Authority on the other hand is the right to get something done. To illustrate this, let’s say you lost your car key and then got someone to force it open. That person has ‘power’. However, you need to stay with the fellow while he is opening your car because if the police finds him there, he could get arrested, but with you present, you can prove that the car is yours and that you authorized him to open it.

Now, going by out illustration, who would you rather be- the fellow who has the power or the one with the authority?

It is quite unfortunate that many Christians are satisfied with just having power. They boast about how the devil no longer torments them. This is good, but why should you stop there when Jesus said that you are capable of so much more? Mark 16:17-18 says:

“ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

As a believer, you are not only meant to be healthy, you are meant to have so much authority over sicknesses and diseases that once they feel your touch, they would vanish immediately.

You may have the power of divine health, but perhaps you don’t yet have the authority to make someone else healthy. Receive that authority now in the mighty name of Jesus. You may have the power to make wealth, but not yet the authority to cause someone else to get his/her financial breakthrough. Receive that authority now in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:

Pray for spiritual authority over the mountains and challenges of your life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 10-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: ALL HAIL THE POW’R

1. All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!

2. Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

3. Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!

4. Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!

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MEMORISE:
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1

READ: Psalm 100:1-5

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

MESSAGE:

One of the ways in which Christians displease God is by being ungrateful for the things He has done for us. We take many of things for granted, whereas they are fundamental to our wellbeing. For example, if you are complaining that God did not give you new shoes, have you considered that, if you didn’t have legs, shoes wouldn’t be an issue.? Ingratitude displeases Him. Many years ago, after a power=packed crusade, I and my children kept talking about the great move of God in the car on the way back to the hotel where I was lodged. On getting to the hotel, the fellow on the passenger side got out quickly to open the door for me. I don’t know how my hand got in the way of his door, but as he slammed it shut, it hit my fingers and I tell you; it was painful. In my pain, I cried to God “why did you let this happen, Lord?” and He said “You kept talking about the miracles that happened in the crusade; did you even bother to say ‘thank you’ to me?” Then I said “Lord, I am sorry, thank You for Your great move during the crusade.” God expects you to be grateful at all times. He is also very jealous about His glory. Isaiah 42:8 says:

“ I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

There was another time when I displeased Him because I thought He had not done anything for me that merited thanksgiving, I began to lay out all the things I had expected in the course of the year but didn’t get. God interrupted me and asked “How many times did you travel this year?” I said “Many times.” How many times did you have an accident?” He asked. I responded None.” He continued “How many times did you sleep?” I quickly interrupted Him because I realized how ungrateful I had been.

I want your attitude to thanksgiving to be different from now. Make thanksgiving your lifestyle. Always look for reasons to thank God, no matter how you may feel.

ACTION POINT:

Write ten things you are grateful to God for and thank Him all through today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 6-9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE.
1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made Him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
o Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice;
Rejoice, rejoice,
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice.

2. Be joyful, for He is the Lord
On earth and in Heaven supreme;
He fashions and rules by His word—
The “Mighty” and “Strong” to redeem.

3. What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail?
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

4. Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

5. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Let gratefulness give all a voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong!

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