NO ROOM FOR THE DEVIL

DATE: THURSDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2016

THEME: NO ROOM FOR THE DEVIL 

Memorise: 

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1st Thessalonians 5:22

Read: Psalms 15:1-5

1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Message

‘Looking unto Jesus’ are three very important words of salvation, encouragement and direction for daily Christian living. Nicodemus, in his search for the true God and eternal life, approached Jesus for possible understanding. The Lord Jesus made the new birth very plain by using an Old Testament illustration of the fiery serpents of brass put on a pole for the Israelites to look upon as recorded in the book of Numbers 21:8-9.

The fall of Adam and Eve, and the temptation of Jesus Christ, exposes humanity to two important realities among many others. First of all, the devil is out to destroy all human beings without exception. Secondly, the devil cannot do a perfect Job at destroying a person without the consensual agreement of that individual. Consequently, the devil seeks the permission of an individual to have the access required to destroy his life. That is why the Bible in Ephesians 4:27, admonishes us not to give way to the devil.

Moreover, the devil does not make this request directly; neither does he require a clear answer from anyone. The language of the devil is always implied and shrouded in ambiguity, such that no one is ever fully aware of the implications of any transaction with the devil until reality dawns on them. For these reasons, children of God should be mindful of their responses to any proposal by the devil because ordinary interest is usually taken as consent or approval by the devil. Men and women who showed interest in various proposals of the devil in the past were soon captured and enslaved to the point of being addicted to such harmful practices like alcoholism, gambling, illicit sex, hard drugs, prostitution, etc. For these reasons, the Bible outlines several ways in which believers should respond to the devil. Evil is to be avoided at all cost as indicated in Psalms 1:1:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”

And in Proverbs 4:14:

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”

And 1st Thessalonians 5:22 says:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Evil is to be hated with passion and resisted with everything we have in line with proverbs 1:10:

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

And James 4:7,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Above all, children of God should pray every day in response to evil, Matthew 6:13 says,

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

I pray that you will not be a victim of evil in Jesus’ name.  

Prayer Point:

Father, please keep evil far away from me and my entire family in Jesus' name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 10-12 and Psalms 46

AUTHOR: Pst E. A ADEBOYE 

HYMN 1: O LORD MY GOD

1. O LORD my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hand hath made; 

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, 

Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed:

Chorus:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, 

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, 

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander 

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:

Chorus:

3. And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, 

Sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in:

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, 

He bled and died to take away my sin:

Chorus:

4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation 

And take me home - what joy shall fill my heart!

Then shall I bow in humble adoration, 

And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art!

Chorus.

HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR

DATE: WEDNESDAY 31ST AUGUST 2016

THEME: HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR

Memorise:

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Psalm 91:5

Read: Psalms 91:1-9

91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 

MESSAGE

God has a reservoir of power to protect His children each time they are in trouble. This is why there is nothing as good as making God the source of your power. God is the most secure place to keep your life. There are many conflicts in this world, there are many happenings that cause fear but we are sure and confident of our victory through the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary. God is the one who can deliver us from all the dangers of life when we trust in Him. God is the Secret Place that keeps one from the enemy. I decree into your life; those who want to attack you will fall into destruction in Jesus' name. Those who put their trust in God have nothing to fear.

As far as God is concerned, fear is not allowed for His children. You cannot have God as your father and live in fear, because the spirit of fear is not part of your destiny as a child of God. Your portion is the spirit of boldness and a sound mind. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego did not give in to fear because they knew that the God they serve will never let them down and they demonstrated this boldness before the King and all the people by not bowing down before the image of the King. They overcame their fear with their conviction in the Almighty God. The King made the furnace seven times hotter, yet they were not afraid, neither did they change their minds, because they knew God will wait for them inside the fiery furnace. For a reader of this devotional, I prophecy into your life; all those arrows that the enemies are throwing in order to put fear into your heart shall lead to your promotion in Jesus' name. When it appears that you are dropping and about to hit the ground, just remember that His everlasting hand is waiting to lift you up.

The children of Israel were afraid of the giants in the land they were to possess. They saw themselves as grasshoppers before the giants because they suddenly forgot that the same God that opened the path for them to cross through the red sea was the same God that wanted them to overrun the land. You need to trust God and never doubt His promises. The moment you doubt God, you are challenging His ability and existence. Those who doubt God usually pay for it and it is not always pleasant. As chicks flee for safety under the wings of the hen, so must we run to the protection of God. There are numerous dangers around, but we know that the God we serve and the power in His Word delivers us from all dangers and fears. As we set our minds on Him, all those things that cause us to worry are taken care of. He will give answers to pressing prayers. He will deliver those who are threatened with different kinds of trouble. He will give you long life by keeping you in perfect health. This is why I want to tell a user of this devotional whose medical report indicates a limited time to live; the Almighty God will change such report in your favour in Jesus' name. 

Prayer Point:

Father, I receive victory over every fear and doubt in my life in Jesus' name. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 7:30-9:26
Psalms 45

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 9: MY FAITH HAS FOUND A PLACE

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Chorus:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

Chorus:

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation through His blood.

Chorus:

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Chorus.

PRINCIPLES OF DIVINE BLESSING

DATE: TUESDAY 30TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: PRINCIPLES OF DIVINE BLESSING

Memorise:

Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30

Read: Deuteronomy 28:1-6

28:1 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:

28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

28:3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out

.

MESSAGE

If you want to command the blessings of God, you must be willing to pay the price. If you want the kind of blessing that does not have any form of sorrow, you must be willing to obey the instructions of God. If you want the kind of blessing that is no respecter of seasons, you must be willing to live a holy life. This means it is very possible for you to enjoy the blessings of God all the days of your life; however, there are principles that command this blessing. When you follow and honour God, you have no fear of tomorrow. There are many people who are worried about what their tomorrow looks like. They don't know what will happen next. For those who are living holy, they know their tomorrow will be alright as promised by God in His Word, they know they will prosper. This is automatic for them because the Word of God says:
"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" Isaiah 1:19

If you are living a holy life, God will supply all your needs. There are many people who are blessed but they have no peace. For those who walk in the path of God, He blesses them and adds peace to their blessing.
"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings." Isaiah 3:10

If you want a glorious promotion, you must live a holy life. The Almighty God is no respecter of persons. He will never bend His standards. He is very strict and perfect. It is the blessing of God that takes an individual to the top. The moment you choose to live by His standards, God will lift you up on high. If you do not live holy, you will always see yourself falling down. Those who are down always suffer but when you are on top, the Lord will bless you greatly. This is why you have to make up your mind to pay the price of consecration. The knowledge of God produces material and financial blessings. The moment you honour God with your life, you will have access to the good things of life. You will attract blessings from all parts of the world and He will give you the wisdom to keep the blessings. Obedience brings blessings; if you are obedient you will have victory in every aspect of life. You will have access to the Fullness of God's provision. Only those who walk in the principles of God can command the blessings of God. He fed the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness without them working for one day. The blessings of the Almighty God are inexhaustible. When you distance yourself from the principle of tithing, the blessings of God will always be distant from you. There is no blessing for the wicked unless the wicked repents and comes to Jesus. Fools are those who know the consequences of something and still go into it. They know that the wages of sin is death and still continue to sin. Divine blessings come to those who keep the commandments of God. They enjoy good success and prosperity. The moment you begin to walk in the principles of God, everything you touch becomes blessed. It is obedience to the Word of God that attracts blessings into one's life. 

Key Point:

It pays to follow God. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 5:14-7:29
Psalms 44:17-26

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 1: O LORD MY GOD

1. O LORD my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed:

Chorus:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:

Chorus:

3. And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in:
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

Chorus:

4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home - what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art!

Chorus.

THE GREAT INVITATION

DATE: MONDAY 29TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: THE GREAT INVITATION

Memorise:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Read: Matthew 11:28-30

11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

MESSAGE

There are numerous invitations we receive during the course of our lifetime, but there is an invitation that changes the life of a person permanently and that invitation is only found in Jesus. Sometimes, people can invite you to great occasions where you dine and wine with very important people in the society but that does not put an end to the trouble you are going through as an individual. You dine with them, but upon returning to your private closet, you carry your problems again. However, when you respond to the invitation of Jesus, He solves all your problems. This is why you cannot afford to respond inappropriately to this invitation. With this invitation, you come as you are. Present yourself to Him the way you are and let Him turn your life around. This is why the invitation of Jesus is the greatest of all invitations; it is also unique because He has all the power and the resources to turn any situation around. No matter how blessed an individual is, there is a limit to how many people he can help. No matter how buoyant your organisation is, there is no CEO that can employ everyone in a country. Jesus is the only employer who can pay everyone that comes under His government. There no restriction, it is open to all.

This invitation is to those who live under the stress and turmoil of this world. He wants to deliver them from all their troubles. There are those who have problems with their spiritual life. Jesus is available to release grace and mercy in the state of their spiritual poverty. There are people living under the bondage of emotions and religion, Jesus wants to set them free and deliver them from all their battles both within and without. There are many people who are struggling on the inside. When you see them, they appear alright but they have troubles, fears, worries, anxieties and depression. Jesus is calling you to come to Him. He wants to remove the yoke that the devil and His agents have put on you. He wants to uproot every plant that He has not planted in your life. He wants to deliver you from the burdens of this world that cause frustration and depression. However, you must submit to Him before He can be of help to you.

It does not matter how far you have gone into the world of sin, Jesus is calling you to come. There is no sinner without a future and there is no saint without a past but in Jesus everything becomes new;
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

One finds peace and rest of mind by understanding that his sins are forgiven by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross of Calvary, because where there is no shedding of blood there is no remission for sins. You can cast all your worries and anxiety on Jesus; it is part of your redemption right because all those troubles have been exchanged for peace through His death. However, you must know that the glory of God is His holiness. His dwelling is in holiness. His way is holy and the invitation to us is not an invitation to lawlessness but an invitation to holiness. 

Prayer Point:

There is no sin that is beyond the redemption at cross. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 3:6-5:13
Psalms 44:9-16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

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

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

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

UNUSUAL MESSENGERS

DATE: SUNDAY 28TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: UNUSUAL MESSENGERS 

Memorise:

And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 1 Kings 17:4

Read: 1 Kings 17:1-5

17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

17:2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

17:5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 

MESSAGE

Messengers are stewards often sent to speak, act, or deliver a message on behalf of their master. In addition to the angelic beings that God normally sends as messengers to speak, deliver messages, or carry out specific assignments, He also uses humans and other living or non-living beings as messengers. The purpose of God's legitimate messengers is always to inform, enable, protect, empower, and guide the people of God. But they are sent occasionally to punish. I pray that you will never do anything to provoke divine judgement in Jesus' name. The most prominent among God's messengers are prophets, humans and angelic beings. However unusual messengers are sometimes deployed by God to carry out special assignments. 1 Kings 17:4-6 says,
"And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there... And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook."

In the above passage, the most unusual messengers- ravens were the stewards sent to provide food for Elijah in the wilderness. Ravens are large heavily built carnivorous birds of the corvine family. God used a great fish, gourd plant, worm and a vehement east wind as unusual messengers to teach Jonah the lesson of his life in Jonah 4:6-8. He used another unusual messenger to play an important role in the story of Balaam in Numbers 22:19-35. Numbers 22:27-28 says;
"...and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?"

The use of supernatural beings and natural elements as God's messengers therefore underscores God as the Lord of Hosts, with the special ability to make all things work in favour of His beloved children. Therefore, give your life to Jesus today, and become one of God's beloved. Then you can be sure that all things will begin to work together for your good according to the Word of God in Romas 8:28.

Prayer Point:

Father, please command all things to work together for my good and the fulfilment of my destiny in the Name of Jesus. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
Psalms 44:1-8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR KING

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.

Chorus:
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.

Chorus:

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.

Chorus:

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

Chorus:

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.

Chorus.

DIVINE KNOWLEDGE AS A WEAPON

DATE: SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: DIVINE KNOWLEDGE AS A WEAPON

Memorise:

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

Read: 2 Kings 6:8-13

6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

6:9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

6:10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

6:11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

6:12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

6:13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

MESSAGE

There is power in the glorious presence of God where many wonderful things take place, including having access to great revelations and instructions which makes living pleasant. God is supreme and He is the power behind all that happens in the deep and secret places. God will not do anything without informing His prophets. The prophet of God is a messenger of the Most High God. From the passage for today, we can see that over and over again, the Syrian aggression against the children of Israel kept leading to the defeat of the Syrian army. It reoccurred to a point in which the King of Syria knew there was a problem somewhere, he came to the conclusion that there must be a traitor somewhere who was revealing all their military tactics to the Israelites. In the long run, they discovered that there was an unseen prophet in the background who was counseling the King of Israel from time to time about the plots of the Syrian army. I decree into your life; all the weapons of the enemy against you shall be exposed in Jesus' name. There is nothing as great as hearing from God because it helps you to avoid many great mistakes in life, and helps you to do great things for God in life. When you are in partnership with God, He will always speak to you concerning things to come before they eventually happen. You will have access to certain classified information and this will help you to maintain your stand against all odds. Knowledge is an important tool and is key to the life of a believer. This is what separated Daniel in the kingdom of Babylon and he became a reference point for different kings in different situations. Daniel had access to vital information which separated him from the crowd.

When you have access to the knowledge of God, nothing will trouble you because you are aware of those things before hand. Understanding gives you the privilege to know the mind of God. When you don't have access to divine knowledge, it can lead to a lot of suffering and hardship. If you want to have access to this divine knowledge, you must purpose in your heart not to defile yourself with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Those that will have access to information from God will be people who understand the heartbeat of God.

There is a God in heaven that reveals to His children vital information from time to time. I always tell my children that if they have enough of God's Presence in their lives, demons will have no power over them, because the activities of the demons will be revealed and destroyed before they are even executed. Right from my early years as General Overseer, I had learnt the secret of victory by spending time in the presence of God, and each time I am in His presence, He reveals deep things to me about different situations of life. I want to implore you to decide to spend enough time in His presence, and you will see the devil fleeing from your life. In His presence there is full disclosure of all the activities of the devil so that you live your life in constant victory. 

Prayer Point:

Father, remove everything hindering me from hearing from You. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 63:15-66:24
Psalms 43

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 9: MY FAITH HAS FOUND A PLACE

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Chorus:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

Chorus:

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation through His blood.

Chorus:

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Chorus.

THREE DIMENSIONAL WICKEDNESS

DATE: FRIDAY 26TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: THREE DIMENSIONAL WICKEDNESS

Memorise:

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6

Read: 1 John 2:15

2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

MESSAGE

The title of today's devotion invites us to have a three dimensional view of wickedness as we consider today's Bible reading and memory verse. If we only glance at this passage superficially, we will not see what God is showing us or get a good enough grasp of the message it contains. According to our memory verse, you will notice that Adam and Eve based their decision squarely on feelings to the exclusion of the Spirit of God that was resident in them. They found the forbidden fruit to be good for food and therefore for the nourishment of the body. Since it was pleasant to the eyes they thought it will satisfy the longing of the soul, and make one wise, hereby satisfying a human's egoistic ambition to be like God. These are indeed the three dimensions of wickedness that led to the fall. The first human beings abused their God-given freedom by these rebellious acts against God. The Word of God in 2 Corinthians 11:3 says;
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

The above passage shows that the fall of Adam and Eve was not out of ignorance, but due to carelessness and a carefree attitude towards the devil. First, they were familiar with the devil to the point of having a rapport with him. Secondly, they were reasoning with the devil on his terms without any recourse for God or His commandments. Thirdly, they were so relaxed, they didn't realize they were being setup for destruction by the devil. Unfortunately, the Church of the 21st century seems not to have learnt any lesson from this example, as we currently exhibit worse simplicity and complacency than that which got Adam and Eve into trouble. Christians now accommodate and even defend those sins that were specifically condemned in the Bible. Will you dance with the devil or STAND FOR JESUS? 

Prayer Point:

Father, I refuse to fall for any form of three dimensional wickedness, please help me to stand firm in You. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 60:1-63:14
Psalms 42

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 9: MY FAITH HAS FOUND A PLACE

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Chorus:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

Chorus:

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation through His blood.

Chorus:

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Chorus.

NOTHING GOES FOR NOTHING

DATE: THURSDAY 25TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: NOTHING GOES FOR NOTHING

Memorise:

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, Matthew 17:1

Read: Matthew 17:14-21

17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

MESSAGE

In secular environments, it takes diligence to get to the top and it takes even more diligence to remain there. There are many people who work really hard to get to the top but upon getting there, they soon begin to relax. Diligence is even more important when it comes to spiritual responsibilities. You need to work hard to have an encounter with God but you need to work twice as hard to keep your encounter intact. To get the answer to all your requests, you have to invest a lot of time before God. Many people just get born again and begin to relax. If you want to command the miraculous you must be ready to pay the price. You have to keep running until you get to the finish line. There are people who have not given God their entire lives, yet they want God to always respond to all their requests. If you want a spiritual transformation in your life, you have to give attention and seriousness to the business of growing daily. Following Jesus Christ could be very costly, His standards are always high and He will never compromise His standard for anyone. If you want to operate in the miraculous, you must be willing to die daily. Self-denial is a basic qualification for discipleship and there are many courses you have to register for in the school of exploits. That includes fasting while others are feasting. It includes praying while others are sleeping. You have to study the Bible while others are spending time on things that will not add significant value to their lives. It involves spiritual discipline while some people are wasting their time away. Paul testified that he kept his body under in order to win the prize. Keeping the body under is self-denial. You are deliberately doing something to achieve something. Somebody asked me how I am able to fast for many days and I replied that it is always very easy for me to do so because each time I want to start a long fast I just go to the calender and count the number of days I want to go and I tell my stomach "look at that day very well, that is the time next time we shall be taking food" it is as simple as that.
To command supernatural situations, nothing goes for nothing. You have to engage in spiritual exercises;
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:21

If Jesus said "men ought to pray and not to faint" (Luke 18:1), it is very obvious that prayer covers a wide range of issues that should keep one very vigilant. It is in the place of prayer that there is a guarantee of continuous Open Heavens for every child of God. At the same time, there are many people who have lost many opportunities because of their understanding of the significant prayer in commanding the release of their heart desires. Fasting is not just a religious exercise as some think. When you engage in fasting, you are equipping yourself with strong weapons to counter every attack of the wicked ones and take your victory in every battle of life. When faith is actively coupled with prayer and fasting, there is nothing that can stop your prayers from being answered. Every barrier that wants to stand on your way will always give in like we observed in the case of Daniel with the prince of Persia. 

Key Poin:

Fasting and prayer is a combined spiritual weapon that commands the miraculous. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 56:9-59:21
Psalms 41

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

YOU NEED DELIVERANCE?

DATE: WEDNESDAY 24TH AUGUST 2016

THEME: YOU NEED DELIVERANCE? 

Memorise:

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27

Read: Deuteronomy 28:25-48

28:25 The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

28:26 And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.

28:27 The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

28:28 The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:

28:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

28:30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

28:31 Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.

28:32 Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine hand.

28:33 The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

28:34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

28:35 The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

28:36 The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

28:38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

28:39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

28:40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

28:41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.

28:42 All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

28:43 The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.

28:44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

28:45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

28:46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

28:47 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

28:48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

MESSAGE

There are many people who are carrying different loads in life. There are weights, burdens and yokes that are delaying many people and stopping them from becoming what God wants them to become. When an individual is in bondage, there are limits to what he can achieve. This may mean that there is an urgent need for deliverance. God is the ultimate deliverer and I want to assure you that everything that is unpleasant in your life shall be made beautiful in Jesus' name. There are people that appear alright, but they have long standing problems. I decree that the Almighty God will turn all of your unpleasant situations into beautiful testimonies in Jesus' name.
"Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." Isaiah 60:15

There are people who have been rejected by others but in the hour of deliverance, these same people will gather people for the celebration of greatness of God in their lives. In the hour of deliverance, wealth will begin to replace poverty in the lives of such people. When deliverance begins, there will be a full restoration of all that has been denied for so many years.

If you align yourself with the will of God this moment, God will begin to be your light. You will walk through darkness and nothing will harm you because the deliverance of God has located you. God wants to deliver you from the power and fears of those whom you cannot handle by your strength. God does not want your life as a believer to be at the mercy of sinners. The blood of Jesus is for your freedom, to deliver you from the tyranny of sin and death. If you allow God to deliver you, the yoke of sickness, poverty, stagnation, unemployment, and fruitlessness will not only be taken away, but it shall be destroyed totally. Moses told the children of Israel to look back and behold th Egyptians, because the Egyptians they were seeing that day would never be seen again in their lives. And the Almighty God sank all the Egyptians and their weapons of war into the sea at that moment. As a child of the Almighty God, you can be sure that there is no weapon formed against you spiritually, physically or administratively that will prosper.

Have you been in bandage? Have you been a victim of situations and circumstances? Are there certain precious things you desire but are outside your control? Are you weeping silently while others think you are happy? I decree once again that your hour of deliverance is here in Jesus' name. That great man called Naaman was a leper but when his hour of deliverance arrived, he dipped himself into river Jordan seven times as instructed, and his skin was wholly replaced. No single sign of loss was found in him. It is in that same Spirit that I want you to know that your freedom has arrived. There will be a complete turnaround in a positive direction in your life in Jesus' name.

Key Point:

When God sets you free, you are free indeed.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 52:1-56:8
Psalms 40:11-17

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: MY FAITH HAS FOUND A PLACE

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Chorus:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

Chorus:

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's Name,
Salvation through His blood.

Chorus:

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Chorus.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL

DATE: TUESDAY 23RD AUGUST 2016

THEME: THE ULTIMATE GOAL

Memorise:

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

Read: Matthew 5:1-10

5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

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

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

5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

MESSAGE

God’s eternal purpose for calling us into His kingdom is to make us a people that will be conformed to the image of His son Jesus Christ. The moment we surrender our lives to Christ, our focus must change and our goals in life must be tailored towards His ultimate purpose. You become separated from the crowd, you become a disciple of Jesus and the love of Christ becomes your preoccupation. Nothing satisfies better than the relationship you enjoy with the Father. You begin to have access to deep secrets because you are now His disciple. Your goal must change because you have become separated from sin and a worldly lifestyle. All those that encountered God had to focus on His ultimate goal for their lives. Joseph knew that he could of his own achieve nothing, so he began to follow the plan of God for his life. He focused on the ultimate goal and the Almighty God assisted him and gave him understanding, which made him to stand out. He learnt so many things as he was working towards God’s plan and purpose for his life. He became humble and grace was released into his life. Those who are always full of their achievements and accomplishments in life can never amount to anything significant before God because they will become blinded by their success. For outstanding goals to be achieved by you, there is the need to depend on the Almighty God.

An understanding of your spiritual poverty is the only gateway into entering into the provision and abundance of the Almighty God. It is acknowledging your deficiencies and realising that you are bankrupt and you need the help of Heaven to achieve the ultimate goal that God has lined up for you. King Solomon understood this and came to God to ask for help in knowing how to go about his daily business of administering the affairs of the kingdom. The moment God is removed from your life, you have nothing more to give to life. This is why you have to be meek before God. You must demonstrate meekness as you move on in life because the place that God is taking you to is a great place. You cannot afford to be proud. It is only the power of God that can guarantee your getting there, not by your own strength. Meekness is an attribute of Christ, and also one of the fruits of the Spirit. We must follow the path of meekness in our daily lives. It means your flesh must be crucified and the natural man in you must give in for the power of God to fill you.

When Joseph’s brothers were about to sell him into slavery, they thought they had gotten rid of the dreamer and his dreams, but they did not know they were only helping him in orchestrating the plan and purpose of God for his life. They became vehicles through which the young dreamer got to his ultimate destination in life. This is why you need to know that all things will always work together for good in the life of those who allow Jesus to be their personal Lord and Saviour. As long as you remain in the perfect will of God, and you are obedient to the ultimate goal that He has set for your life, you can be sure you will get to your destination. Dare to trust God and stop struggling to fight your battles by yourself. With God on your side, you will reach your goal.

Key Point:

The plan and purpose of God for a man is the best that can ever happen to him. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

Isaiah 49-51

Psalms 40:1-10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee. 

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee. 

Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose. 

Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne. 

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

HEALED THROUGH OBEDIENCE

DATE: MONDAY 22 AUGUST 2016

THEME: HEALED THROUGH OBEDIENCE 

Memorise: 

His mother saith unto the savants, whatever he saith unto you do it. John 2:5

Read: 2 Kings 5:9-14

9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

MESSAGE

Every genuine child of God has a covenant right of divine health amongst other things. When I became born again, I did not believe in divine healing and I used to say that those pastors preaching about divine healing were looking for whom to kill. It was the testimony of an old man who shared how he challenged the devil who was mocking him in his sickness that made me to believe that divine healing is possible. In Exodus 15:26, God said:

“I am the Lord that healeth thee”.

The one asking you not to fear is the original physician. The storms of sicknesses and disease are much more dangerous than any other form of attack against humanity. Diseases and sicknesses have different durations in the human body. There are some that last a few days and there are some that last for years. God’s ultimate plan for His children is to live a life that is not afflicted with sickness. He is interested in our wellbeing. Healing is possible and it can be obtained through faith and in obedience to the Word of God.

When one is suffering from one form of sickness or the other, it affects other things. It drains the finances of its victim and causes stagnation. There are many colourful dreams that have been aborted as a result of sickness. There are many wealthy people who have become poor because a sickness drained their finances. The anointing of Jesus Christ is to destroy all that God has not planted in your life. Jesus came to destroy the yoke of sickness and this is why I want you to know that your case is not impossible with Jesus. However, there are certain instructions that you may have to work with if you want your miracle to be permanent. Our Bible passage reveals the story of the Syrian army officer who was highly ranked but was suffering from a particular sickness. The man of God asked him to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times for him to be healed of his sickness. It took the intervention of a God-sent messenger for him to access his miracles. He would have lost the miracle of healing that he had been longing for. He saw the instruction as ridiculous. I have seen over and over again that instructions that look very simple are always ignored by people, yet, it is the secret required for their breakthrough. This officer thought the river was too dirty for him and he began to list many exclusive rivers, but the man of God was specific about the river and the number of times he had to enter the river. 

Obedience to the instruction of God is very crucial to the release of our miracles in life. This man dipped himself into the Jordan River six times and nothing happened. It wasn’t until he entered the seventh time that his skin became changed and he received his healing. He dipped himself into the river and his flesh became like that of a baby.

Why are you still in that problem? Could it be that there are certain instructions given to you and you have not obeyed or your obedience has not been complete? You need to check yourself. The miracle you need is right beside you; just do what Jesus has asked of you and you will see your miracle being delivered without further delay.

Prayer Point:

Father, remove every self-inflicted hindrance to my miracle in Jesus’ name.

Bible in one year: Isaiah 45:14-48:22 and Psalms 39

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1. Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 

2. Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee. 

3. Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee. 

4. Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose. 

5. Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne. 

6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.