MEMORISE: In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 1 Kings 3:5

READ: Genesis 12:1 -4

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

MESSAGE

God still speaks to this day, but unfortunately, many people do not hear Him because they are too busy with the affairs of life. The painful thing is that people do not know what they are missing by not listening to their maker. In today’s text, we read about Abraham’s encounter with the Almighty God.

Now the Lord had said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy father’s kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that l will show thee.

Genesis 12:1

There are some lessons we can learn from this singular encounter that changed Abraham’s life, One, God discovered the love and sincerity of Abraham so He revealed Himself to him. This love for God was demonstrated in his positive and prompt response to God’s command to leave his father’s house. Another lesson is that the dialogue between God and Abraham did not contain commands alone; it was backed by et real blessings. The Bible says, ‘So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Abraham became the father of faith because the word of God penetrated his heart. In the Scripture from where we took the memory verse, we read this f the encounter of Solomon with the Almighty God. During that divine encounter, God gave Solomon a blank cheque and this is a typical privilege enjoyed by those who have such dialogues with God.

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what l shall give thee.

I Kings 3:5

To be genuine children of God, we must surrender completely to all His commandments. This is where many people often miss it – they are not ready to obey God fully. They want freedom from His commandments; they want to take over the affairs of life without any recourse to God Almighty. I encourage you to give your life to Jesus Christ today. Seek His face without ceasing – not just what He has to give and you will receive great revelations from Him that will transform your life for good.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please speak to me today, and always.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 32-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: ANCIENT WORDS

Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,

They resound with God’s own heart

Oh, let the Ancient words impart.

Chorus

Ancient words ever true

Changing me, and changing you.

We have come with open hearts

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope

In this world, where e’er we roam

Ancient words will guide us Home.

Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age.

Came to us through sacrifice

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world.

They resound with God’s own heart

Oh let the ancient words impart.

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MEMORISE: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31

READ: Deuteronomy 28:1

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:

MESSAGE

Anyone can become the best. There are however, conditions that must be fulfilled if you want to become the best. The Bible says: “I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth” (Ecclesiastes 10:7). It all depends on the readiness to pay the price. In our Bible text, we read the promises of God that assure us of being the best. However, in the same text, we read the conditions to fulfil – hearkening to the voice of the Lord,,observing and doing all His commandments

How many of us are ready to hearken to the voice of the Lord today? I have taught ministers what it means to hearken, which is different from listening. To hearken is not just to listen but to pay very close attention to the details of the voice of the commandment of the Lord. Only then can you fulfil the details of God’s instructions. The Bible says that faith can only come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God and not the word of men or the voice of our carnal body (Romans 10:17). For example, if you want to be the best financially, you must pay close attention to Malachi 3:10, which says:

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meal in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if l will not open you the Windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be enough to receive it.

A closer look at the passage will reveal why some people have been paying tithes but have not received the promise of super-abundance. “Bring all the tithes” the Bible says – not some. “Bring it ” not “Send it” – meaning that God cherishes our presence before Him more than our gift. He wants our fellowship. He is not a beggar, we must come with fear and trembling, praying that He would even accept our tithes and offerings.

Another example is when we want God to perform miracles through us. The Bible says that some results cannot be achieved without prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21), even though some translations have removed fasting for reasons best known to them. Beloved, you can be the best if you will pay the price of surrendering your life to Christ and living according to His will.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please give me the best and make me the best, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 20-24

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

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.

Standing, standing,

1 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 shall not 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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MEMORISE: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

READ: Mark 4:35 -41

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

MESSAGE

A financial storm is another critical storm of life that every believer must take care of by the power in the name of Jesus Christ. The Bible says: “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). The Scripture further says: “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty” (Proverbs 10:15). The first thing to do to still a financial storm is to work hard. The Bible says:

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slash hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathererh in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame:

Proverbs 10:4-5

The Bible further says in Proverbs 22:29:

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Thus, hard work is good. However, hard work alone may guarantee safety from financial storm because the Bible says: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wake th but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Right from the fall at Eden, man has been laboring with little reward (Genesis 3:17-19). Therefore, the curse of poverty must be broken and the only One who can do this is Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Our memory verse for today shows that Jesus sacrificed everything to restore man to a life of bliss. We must invite Him into our lives so that every financial storm blowing against our lives would be stilled.

We need to cry to God in the name of Jesus Christ, who,promised that whatever we ask the Father in His name shall be done for us (John 14:14). He says also in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that a sketch receiveth; and he that seeketh find etch; and to him that knock etch it shall be opened”. God will end poverty in your life today and He will use your testimony to draw many into His Kingdom, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please bless me, and still my financial storms today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 12-14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 26: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

1 There shall be showers of blessing:

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need;

Mercy-drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

2 There shall be showers of blessing—

Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

3 There shall be showers of blessing;

Send them upon us, O Lord!

Grant to us now a refreshing;

Come, and now honor Thy Word.

4 There shall be showers of blessing;

O that today they might fall,

Now as to God we’re confessing,

Now as on Jesus we call!

5 There shall be showers of blessing,

If we but trust and obey;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

If we let God have His way

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MEMORISE: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

READ: Jude 1:21 -24

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

MESSAGE

Our memory verse of today reveals another very important role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer – preserving us unto the day of redemption. ‘The day of redemption’ in the memory verse is talking of the ultimate redemption when we safely arrive in the Kingdom of God. The reason is that there is no eternal assurance that once you are saved, you are forever saved. There are examples of people who started well but ended up badly. For instance, after King Saul was ordained by Samuel, he prophesied and the people asked: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 10:11). Unfortunately, after King Saul got into trouble for disobeying divine instructions, he went after a familiar spirit. 1 Samuel 28:7 says:

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that l may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

King Saul did this despite the fact that the Bible says in Isaiah 65:24:

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

In John 16:7-14, we see that the Holy Spirit guides us into all – not some – truth. Many things we ought to know about God, our Saviour, ourselves, the written word of God, the devil, the world in which we live and so on are explained to us by the Holy Spirit. We cannot gain an understanding of God without the Holy Spirit. The word of God would be ordinary literature without the Holy Spirit’s illumination.

The Bible says in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit will show us things to come

The spiritual decadence in the end- time Church has been foretold by the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 4:12). It is a pity, however, that some children of God are not taking advantage of the Holy Spirit’s guidance to keep us from falling. May you not fall, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Holy Spirit Divine, please keep me to the uttermost end . Help me to finish well and strong, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 4-8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1 I need Thee ev’ry hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

Refrain:

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Ev’ry hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

2 I need Thee ev’ry hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r

When Thou art nigh. [Refrain]

3 I need Thee ev’ry hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain. [Refrain]

4 I need Thee ev’ry hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfill. [Refrain]

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MEMORISE: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16: 13

READ: John 16:7 -14

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

MESSAGE

For the next three days, we shall be looking at the role of Holy Spirit in the life of believers. Today we will consider His role as a Witness to Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

A very important role of the Holy Spirit is the conviction of sin, as we saw in today’s Bible text. It reads in part:

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and righteousness, and of judgment.
John 16:8

Unfortunately, many people choose to be just spectators and merely watch the Holy Spirit in action – doing what only He can do, but are never partakers of it. Such people seldom allow the Holy Spirit to play His primary role of bringing them to repentance as they refuse to be remorseful for their sins. When people refuse to be convicted of their sins, they demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s word, which says all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Such people rationalize sin and call it all sorts of nice names. This is why the Bible encourages us to confess our sins, even to one another, that we may be healed (James 5:16).

The first thing Jesus takes care of in the life of whoever He want to heal is the issue of sin, according to Mark 2:5-12. Even after Jesus had healed an individual and found him in the temple some days later, His admonition was “…sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14).

Beloved, if you have not yet confessed and forsaken your sins, allow Holy Spirit to convict you of them. Begin to pay close attention to the details of God’s requirements for holy living and you would see the Holy Spirit transforming your life far beyond all expectations.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please empower me to live holy, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Songs of Solomon 7-14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: O WHAT A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL DAY

1 Oh What A Wonderful Wonderful Day
Day I Will Never Forget
After I’d Wandered In Darkness Away
Jesus My Saviour I Met
Oh What A Tender Compassionate Friend
He Met The Need Of My Heart
Shadows Dispelling With Joy I Am Telling
He Made All The Darkness Depart

Chorus

Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul
When At The Cross The Saviour Made Me Whole
My Sins Were Washed Away
And My Night Was Turned To Day
Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul

Chorus

2 Born Of The Spirit With Life From Above
Into God’s Family Divine
Justified Fully Thru Calvary’s Love
Oh What A Standing Is Mine
And The Transaction So Quickly Was Made
When As A Sinner I Came
Took Of The Offer Of Grace
He Did Proffer He Saved Me
Oh Praise His Dear Name

Chorus

3 Now I’ve A Hope That Will Surely Endure
After The Passing Of Time
I Have A Future In Heaven For Sure
There In Those Mansions Sublime
And It’s Because Of That Wonderful Day
When At The Cross I Believed
Riches Eternal And Blessings Supernal
From His Precious Hand I Received

Chorus

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MEMORISE: Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10

READ: 2 Chronicles 20:21 -24

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

MESSAGE

The accounts of Genesis reveal that at a point in time, the world was formless and chaotic, however, the reason for this is not our concern in today’s devotion. Rather, we want to see why divine intervention is necessary in the affairs of men. For example, when the children of Israel found themselves in slavery, they cried to the God of their fathers.

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and l have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Exodus 3:9

In response to their cry, there was a divine intervention which delivered them from slavery to King Pharaoh (Exodus 6:6). This type of situation is not peculiar to the children of Israel alone; people have been subjected to serious attacks, frustration and untold hardship from generation to generation. The reason is found in the book of Revelation – how the devil came to the world in great fury to wreak havoc on earth’s inhabitant (Revelation 12:12). Unless God intervenes as He did in Genesis, human life can be extremely miserable.

In today’s text, three king ganged up against the tribe of Judah. Jehoshaphat – the King of Judah, however, cried to the Lord for divine intervention, knowing that there was no way he could win the battle against just one of the three kings, not to mention the joint forces of all three. The Lord responded and said:

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
2 Chronicles 20:17

The Lord intervened and the battle was decided in favour of King Jehoshaphat and his people. The Lord will intervene in your situation today, in Jesus’ name. However, be ready to align yourself with God Almighty through Jesus Christ His Son. Be ready to worship God in holiness and make this your lifestyle.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please intervene in my situation today as You did for Jehoshaphat and the children of Judah.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 9-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: O WHAT A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL DAY

1 Oh What A Wonderful Wonderful Day
Day I Will Never Forget
After I’d Wandered In Darkness Away
Jesus My Saviour I Met
Oh What A Tender Compassionate Friend
He Met The Need Of My Heart
Shadows Dispelling With Joy I Am Telling
He Made All The Darkness Depart

Chorus

Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul
When At The Cross The Saviour Made Me Whole
My Sins Were Washed Away
And My Night Was Turned To Day
Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul

2 Born Of The Spirit With Life From Above
Into God’s Family Divine
Justified Fully Thru Calvary’s Love
Oh What A Standing Is Mine
And The Transaction So Quickly Was Made
When As A Sinner I Came
Took Of The Offer Of Grace
He Did Proffer He Saved Me
Oh Praise His Dear Name

Chorus

3 Now I’ve A Hope That Will Surely Endure
After The Passing Of Time
I Have A Future In Heaven For Sure
There In Those Mansions Sublime
And It’s Because Of That Wonderful Day
When At The Cross I Believed
Riches Eternal And Blessings Supernal
From His Precious Hand I Received

Chorus

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MEMORISE: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

READ: Ephesians 3:20 -21

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

MESSAGE

We started examining ‘Exceeding Expectations’ yesterday and found out that the Almighty God is the only One who can truly exceed your greatest expectations.

My Daddy is All-Sufficient and limitless. He has so much that after He has blessed someone, the fellow’s cup would run over (Psalm 23:5). Today, we shall continue to look at the Almighty God exceeding our expectations beyond our human imagination. The Bible says:

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippics 4:19

The above Scripture reveal one fact: that divine supplies are based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. The reason is that Jesus paid the price of blessing those who,put their trust in Him. The Bible says:

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

In our text for today, we are assured that the Almighty God is more than able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we may ask or think. Hence, we must give Him the glory all the time.

Our Lord offers us a classic example of the blessing we receive when we give Him all the glory, honour and thanksgiving, through what He did before five loaves and two,pieces of fish became more than enough to feed five thousand people – He gave thanks (John 6:11-14). It was indeed a clear case of exceeding the expectations of the disciples and everyone present there. This is why Moses admonished the children of Israel to always remember the God who gave them the power to become exceedingly wealthy (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Remembering God is remembering to do according to His commandments. Beloved, if you truly believe Him, He will exceed all your expectations in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Thank God for what seems not to be enough and He will make it exceedingly more than enough.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 5-8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 27: 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!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O 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 your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Worship and Rejoice, 2003

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MEMORISE: And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 1 Kings 3:13

READ: 1 Kings 3:4 -15

4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

MESSAGE

An expectation is a strong belief that something will happen, especially when all other things are equal. For example, all other things being equal, a worker will be paid his salary at the end of the month. In other words, this expectation will not be realised if that worker suddenly quits his or her job before the end of the month. The good news is that any expectation based on the promises of the Almighty God to you shall come to pass, provided you remain steadfast in following and obeying Him.

In our memory verse today, the Lord exceeded Solomon’s expectations. Solomon had asked for wisdom to be able to rule God’s people excellently, but to his amazement, God added some things to his expectation of wisdom.

And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the king like unto thee all thy days.
I Kings 3:13

I remember expecting God to give me a modest apartment to live in after l became the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, but He exceeded my expectations by promising me a city. Currently, the Redemption Camp, though still expanding now, is comparable to a city. To experience something exceeding your expectations, to get more than you hoped for, you must excel in your commitment to the Almighty God – the only One who can exceed your greatest expectations.

You must set yourself apart in holiness if you want to experience blessings that will exceed your expectations. For example, you may be asking for the position of a High Chief whereas God may want to make you a King. You may be seeking to be elected as a senator and end up becoming the President of your country. What can God not do? Absolutely nothing. God can easily exceed your expectations as long as you are on His side in holiness and righteousness.

KEY POINT

Only God can exceed your greatest expectations.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

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.

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 shall not 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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MEMORISE: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2

READ: Romans 5:1 -5

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

MESSAGE

To whom God would made known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that one cannot please God without faith, for anyone to have hope of glory, the fellow must choose correctly whom he or she mound serve (Joshua 24::15). It takes faith to choose rightly, according to our memory verse for today.

Through faith in the Living God, we are justified as the redeemed of the Lord – Jesus being the Author and Finisher of,our faith. He came to save us through His death, by the washing away of our sins with His blood. This is why the Bible says:

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. But now is Christ from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15::13-14, 20

The Scripture above is the basis for our hope of glory. The Scripture further says, ‘ lf in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19. This is why as Christians, we should not despair even in tribulation because of the assurance to of glory we have in Christ.

Our hope of glory is not an empty hope, according to Revelation 21:1-7, which assures us of a new heaven and a new earth where there shall be no more pain, sorrow, lack, sickness or death. Death shall be swallowed in victory (1 Corinthians 15:34).

Therefore, beloved, to have this hope in you, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today. If you have accepted Christ, ensure you do not look back because Jesus said: ,No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

I pray the Almighty God keeps us all in Him to the end in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Thank the Lord for the hope of glory and ask Him to help you remain steadfast in Him to the end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 27-29

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAV’N

1 I am so glad that our Father in heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see:
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2 Though I forget Him and wander away,
Still He doth love me whenever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3 Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me.”

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MEMORISE: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8

READ: Luke 13:6 -9

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

MESSAGE

Many divine blessings are conditional. This is why there are many “ifs” in God’s covenants with mankind. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28:1

God promised the children of Israel that He would bless them so much so that they would be above all nations of the earth, if they would hearken diligently to His voice and keep His commandments.

The primary purpose of divine blessings is to make the blessed fellow fruitful and a blessing to others. Fruitfulness however, is also one of the conditional blessings of God. The primary condition for fruitfulness is found in John 15:4:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

The question then is, “How can l abide in the Vine?” The answer is not far-fetched. You must first become a part of the Vine by responding positively to Jesus’ call in Matthew 11:28-30. When you confess Him as your Lord and Saviour, you become grafted into the Vine – the Lord Jesus Christ.

The next phase is to abide in Jesus. Abiding in Jesus means living according to His will. Jesus said in John 8:31,” …if he continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” He also said in John 15:10, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as l have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love”.

You can be fruitful spiritually, like Peter who preached one sermon and 3000 souls were won into the kingdom of God (Acts 2:38-41) or Paul, who God healed many sick people through his apron and handkerchiefs (Acts 19:11-12). You can also be fruitful materially, as in the case of Isaac, who became wealthy that a whole nation began to envy him (Genesis 26:14-17). Furthermore, you can also be fruitful physically such that in your old age, you would remain strong, as in the case of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:7).

Beloved, as we read in our Bible text today, it is dangerous to be unfruitful. You will experience all-round fruitfulness if you surrender your life to Jesus and live according to His will for the rest is of your life.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please cause me to experience all-round fruitfulness, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 24-26

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

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