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MEMORISE:
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

READ: James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

MESSAGE
Fear is an unpleasant emotion that is usually triggered by a perceived or real threat of danger, pain or harm. It manifests as a general feeling of anxiety over the likelihood of a negative occurrence that may never become reality. It is indeed a paralyzing force that often leads to self-doubt, timidity and lack of confidence, and if allowed to fester, it usually deals irreparable blows on the victim over time. Speaking on the debilitating effects of fear, Proverbs 22:13 says:
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”

Fear prevents its victims from investing quality time, effort and money into profitable ventures, rendering them powerless and denying them bountiful harvests. Have you been held captive by fear? May the Lord deliver you from the spirit of fear and its paralyzing effects today in Jesus’ Name. to liberate His people from the bondage of fear, God repeatedly encouraged them to “fear not” several times in the Bible. What He said to them, He also says to you now: “Fear not”. Be strengthened by His assuring words in Isaiah 41:10, saying:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

In light of God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10-13, it is clear that He expects us to allow our faith in Him shape the realities of our lives rather than let fear dominate us. God is disappointed whenever we exercise fear instead of faith. When the disciples of Jesus were confronted by a raging storm which frightened them, Jesus asked them in Mark 4:40b:

“Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

This shows that God sees people who exhibit fear as having little or no faith at all. Faith is the antidote to fear as having little or no faith at all. Faith is the antidote to fear, and anyone who will overcome fear must develop strong faith in God. Complete trust and faith in god is a central pillar of our life as Christians. This Holy Spirit assures us that whoever believes in Christ will not be disappointed or confounded (1 Peter 2:6). Whenever frightening events happen around us or we are overwhelmed by difficult circumstance of life, when danger lurks and failure or death stares us in the face, God expects us to safely trust in His love and ability to see us through such difficult times. May the anchor of your faith continually hold on to God forever in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:
M
Father, please destroy the power of fear over my life and family today, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 15-16
Ezekiel 26:7-21

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
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!

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

While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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MEMORISE:
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

READ: Acts 21:8-9

8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

MESSAGE

“…….. they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.” Song of Solomon 1:6

The sad scenario outlined in this verse of scripture applies to a lot of Christians who are actively engaged in the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. They get so consumed with service to God and others that they neglect their own families. They preach the gospel to the world but fail to bring up their own families in the ways of God. This was the case with Eli, Samuel and David. They led God’s people but neglected their own households, and the result of their neglect had tragic consequences for their families (1 Samuel 8:1-6, 2 Samuel 13 & 15).

It is true that the Lord gave us the Great Commission to reach out to the whole world with the message of the gospel, but He also gave us the method we should apply to execute this mandate, saying in Acts 1:8:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Take note of the order He wants us to follow: first Jerusalem, then Judea, followed by Samaria and finally to the uttermost part of the earth. He further said in Luke24:47:

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

In other words, you are to begin from your immediate community; that is, those close to you. When we do not follow divine order, we are bound to run into problems. For those who are saved, your household is your Jerusalem. The Great Commission must begin in our homes. It is disheartening to see children of committed Christian going wayward and doing abominable things like the children of Eli and Samuel. We must work on our children with the message of the gospel from when they are very young, during their formative years. The Holy Spirit did not mince words when He said in Proverbs 22:6:

“ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Learn from Philip’s example in today’s Bible reading. He was an evangelist who brought up his daughters in the ways of the Lord. I pray that God will help you to do the needful and produce godly seeds in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Ensure you win your immediate family to God through prayer, supplication and teaching of the word both verbally and by your lifestyle.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 42-43
Jeremiah 28:10-29:9

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

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 thy love hath 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 queenly quest
Strive to show others thy way is best
Homes where the lord is an honoured 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!
Amen.

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MEMORISE:

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4

READ: Matthew 5:27-32

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 15-16

Isaiah 66:7-24

MESSAGE

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

The scripture aptly describes the state of the world today, especially in the area of sexual immorality. Many people this days have no sense of restraint, having eliminated God’s authority over their lives. They are no longer answerable to God, and the boundaries He has defined for the total wellbeing of mankind are being dismantled in order to accommodate their desires. As a result, every sexual absurdity that enters into the depraved minds is turned into a course for social justice by the devil and his agents, and several simple-minded people are getting swept into supporting such so-called “civil right” causes that are essentially a repudiation of the ways of God. Not satisfied with manipulating the world, the devil has set his sights on the Church, which has been his target all along. It is therefore disheartening to see ignorant Christians lowering the standard of God’s word in order to accommodate the world. Such Christians believe that in order to reach out to the world, the word of God needs to be “toned down” to accommodate modern day realities. They forget that the Holy Spirit says in 2 Timothy 2:19:     CLICK HERE TO READ MASTER OVER CIRCUMSTANCES BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

God’s standards are very high, they are firm and they are sealed. This means that you cannot unravel them to add or subtract things in order to accommodate your own desires.

In today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus Christ declares God’s standard on immorality to every ear that is willing to hear. The first standard He sets is that adultery is not committed just in the act but also in the lust that arises before the act. The devil knows this and that is why he manipulates men and women to wear clothes that accentuates or reveal their nakedness, even in church. His plan is to ensnare innocent souls into committing adultery and fornication through lust. Another standard of the Lord established in today’s Bible text concerns divorce and re-marriage. Several so-called “Bible-believing” churches have jettisoned God’s standard and have embraced the necessity of divorce and re-marriage as a reality of modern life. Such people are only deceiving themselves and will answer for it on Judgment Day. Are you living by God’s standards in the area of sexual purity?

ACTION POINT:

Endeavor to avoid any act that would foster sexual immorality in the Church of Christ.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Refrain

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MEMORISE:

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Psalm 37:1

READ: Psalm 37:1-9

1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

MESSAGE

In today’s reading, the Lord instructs us three times not to fret (worry or be envious) over the prosperity of evildoers. This should indicate to us how important this issue is to His heart, and it should also establish the fact that the righteous can fall into temptation of aligning with evildoers because of their prosperity. We must not get carried away by the “success” of unbelievers, especially when they dangle their evil carrots at us so that we can join them in their unrighteous deeds. Even Asaph, a chief Levite, was faced with the dilemma. In Psalm 73:3-8, he confessed as follows:

“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.”

He was in this state until God opened his heart to comprehend the final destiny of all unbelievers (Psalm 73:17-22). In like manner, so many children of God are becoming envious of sinners today. If you feel this way, God is asking me to tell you that your godliness is not in vain. He is taking account of your watchfulness in doing His will, and in due season, He will show the wicked world that you were right and they were wrong.

Beloved, it is a lie of the devil when people tell you that everyone is cooked and so you should join them in being corrupt. Just as He did in Elijah’s time, God has reserved in this generation an unimaginable number of His children who have made up their minds to follow Him wholly (1 Kings 19:14&18). The story was told of two soldiers during the reign of terror in the Soviet Union, who stormed the meeting place of some Christians and threatened to kill whoever confessed Jesus Christ. They also gave the opportunity of freedom to those who wanted to change their minds on their faith. Unfortunately, some of these Christians denied Christ and were allowed to go. Once they had left, the soldiers shut the door and revealed their true identities as children of God. They deliberately did what they did to weed out false brethren so that they could safely worship with true Christians. Today, ungodliness is in vogue because it seems to pay off. It is not true, beloved of God, especially when you consider what becomes of unbelievers at the end of their lives. I encourage you to stay on the path of holiness because whosoever endures to the end shall experience the ultimate in God’s salvation (Matthew 10:22).

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to keep holding fast to the word of salvation till I see You in glory.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN

1. O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

2. Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

3. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

4. O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

5. Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.

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MEMORISE:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

READ: Hebrews 12:1-3

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 17-18

MESSAGE
Have you ever wondered why the Bible admonished us to keep looking unto Jesus? The answer lies in our memory verse. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. in other words, our faith is based on Him and on He is capable of doing for and through us. No wonder Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The discovery of this truth should convince every child of God of how important it is to focus on the One who alone can help us accomplish what is humanly difficult or impossible to do. There are many reasons why we should focus on Jesus as we journey through the wilderness of this world, one being that He is the perfect image of God in Colossians 1:14-15 says these about Him:

“ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

As the image of the invisible God, He stands as a perfect representation of who we are meant to be in this world. Speaking on this truth in 1 John 4:17, the Holy Spirit says:

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

In order words, the knowledge of who we are as partakers of God’s divine nature only becomes clearer when we focus on Jesus, and this enables us to manifest the glory of who we really are.

Genesis 1:26 tells us that man was created to have dominion. However, this dominion was lost when man fell into sin. To restore us to our rightful place, Jesus Christ was made the last Adam. He declared in Matthew 28:18b

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Do you know that He is ready to give this power to whosoever desires and will look up to Him for it? He demonstrated this while He was here on earth, as seen in Luke 9:1:

“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.”

You cannot give what you do not have. Because Jesus possesses all power, authority and dominion, He was able give power to His disciples and He is capable of giving it to those who would accept Him as their Lord and personal Savior. Looking elsewhere for power is a waste of time because genuine power belongs to Jesus, and He gives it to those who answer His call to salvation. Have you answered this call? Keep your focus on Him.

KEY POINT:

How much time daily do you spend meditating on Jesus?

Isaiah 50:1-51:3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: 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: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Read: Psalm 139:21-24
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Bible in one year: Psalm 78-80, Matthew 26:47-68

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

1. It is possible for a person who once walked with God to drift out of the faith. This is the reason why 2 Corinthians 13:5 says: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
2. From this scripture, we see that it is also possible for a person to know that he or she is no longer in the faith, especially if such a fellow has become a reprobate.
3. To become reprobate can be likened to spiritual insanity.
4. When a person is psychologically insane, he or she can no longer differentiate between good and evil. For example, a mad person wandering around naked will regard someone who is properly dressed as abnormal for putting on clothes. In the same way, when a child of God who has been taught to be properly dressed now begins to dress half nude in the name of fashion, something fundamental has gone wrong in his or her life. The fellow must conduct a critical, biblical examination of his or her faith.
5. The Psalmist made a wise request from the Lord in Psalm 139:23-24. He asked the Lord to carry out a thorough search of his inner man to see if there was anything contrary to His nature of it. This suggests that we can pray to the Lord, as the Revealer of all secrets, to reveal the true state of our hearts to us.
6. When a reprobate person prays this prayer sincerely, God will come to his or her aid to remove the scales covering the eyes of the heart from seeing its true state.
7. The Psalmist prayed that God should graciously find out for him any iota of wickedness that might exist in him and lead him out of it onto the way of righteousness.
8. The easiest way the Lord does this for His genuine children is through His written word.
9. In Psalm 119:9, the Holy Spirit reveals the secret of righteous living, saying: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
10. The word of God enables us to examine whether we are still in faith. It acts as a mirror that shows our true state (James 1:22-25).
11. When God’s word illuminates your ways, you will see where you might have erred (Psalm 119:105).
12. The word does not stop at revealing sin in our lives, it also cleanses us from sin, but only if we allow it impact and change our lives (Ephesians 5:26-27).
13. Beloved, if you sincerely want to examine whether you are still in the faith, study the word.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“The word of God enables us to examine whether we are still in faith. It acts as a mirror that shows our true state (James 1:22-25).” Beloved this is a deep truth that we should embrace in making our ways right with the Lord. We should also diligently follow the action point for today. May we not miss our way in Christ and faith in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point: Pray the Psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24
Hymn
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
I need thee every hour
Most Holy one;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

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