WATCH YOUR NUTRITION

DATE: MONDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2018

THEME: WATCH YOUR NUTRITION

MEMORISE:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossian 2:8

READ: 2 Peter 2:1-3

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

MESSAGE 

As a Christian living in these end times, we have to be very careful of the source and nature of what we allow into our minds. In today’s bible reading, the Holy Spirit warns us to be wary of false prophets that will arise from among the people, secretly building up destructive heresies with the aim of taking people’s focus away from Christ. Many of the sermons preached in today’s church are focused on prosperity, faith, grace, deliverance and so on. I have no problem with these topics; they are essential parts of the Good News. However, many preachers discuss them to such extent that the resultant effect is a bunch of malnourished souls in the church today. These preachers are out to satisfy their own motives, and so they twist scriptures to fit their own message to look good in the sight of people and to get gifts from them. The Holy spirit spoke about such preachers in Romans 16:18, saying:

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

As a Heaven bound child of God, your spiritual nutrition is of utmost importance. If you are not well nourished spiritually in your local assembly, or you notice that your spiritual growth is stunted, then it is time for you to leave that assembly and prayerfully look for another place where your spiritual needs will be met. You must avoid churches where the lifestyle of Christ is not preached. Steer clear of churches where the death and resurrection of Jesus are never preached. Shun sermons that encourage tribalism, and be careful of churches that glorify any individual or individuals other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The early apostles preached nothing but Jesus Christ. Paul himself said in 1 Corinthians 2:2: 

 “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

Run away from preachers whose sermons leave you comfortable in your sins. Holy living must be emphasized in whatever church you prayerfully decide to join, and the Bible must be upheld as the foundation of the church’s doctrine. The Holy Spirit must be the one who leads and that God is present there. If you are presently under the influence of a destructive preacher, I pray for you today that the Lord will redeem you and connect you with a Spirit-led preacher in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Take a look at your present church. If spiritual growth has not increased significantly since you joined them, prayerfully look for another church where your spiritual needs will be met.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 24-27

Mark 15:33-16:8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

PRIVATE & PUBLIC MINISTRY

DATE: SUNDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2018

THEME: PRIVATE & PUBLIC MINISTRY

MEMORISE:

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23

READ: Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Acts 13:1-2

1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

MESSAGE:

I would like to share an important truth with you today. To be effective in your assignment in life, you need both a private and public ministry. In private, you minister to the Lord with prayers and fasting, like Anna and the prophets and teachers in Antioch did (Luke 2:36-37). Many spiritual battles won in the public were settled in the place of private spiritual warfare. A good example to show the importance of private ministry is when Moses confronted the Amalekites in the place of private intercession. Moses was still grappling with the grumbling and murmuring of the people he was leading when the Amalekites confronted them with war. Immediately, he activated both a private and public ministry to tackle the Amalekites. He told Joshua t lead the physical battle, while he and his two lieutenants went into private spiritual warfare. Confirming the popular saying that the spiritual controls the physical, Exodus 17:11 says:

“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

We can safely conclude that there is no success in public ministry without a solid private ministry. This principle is constant and revelant from generation to generation. It also applies to people in business. Even our Lord Jesus Christ combined these two dimensions of ministry, as seen in today’s memory verse. After public ministration, our Lord would retreat to His private ministry of prayer, where He recharged His spiritual battery.

However, private ministry without public ministry is like a sumptuous meal that is not brought into the banquet hall for consumption. As revealed in our Bible text, our light is not meant to be hidden under a bushel. We must be wary of being lopsided as Christians. Some of us even say “I am called to be this and not that” thereby limiting the extent to which the Lord can use us. There is no reason a prayer warrior cannot witness to the perishing souls around him or her. In the same vein, an evangelist who claims to be called to propagate the gospel may end up frustrated without a private ministry of intercession for the souls he or she is going out for. This is because we are not wrestling with flesh and blood when we go out to fulfill our public ministry (Ephesians 6:12). Beloved, God is speaking to you today so that you can fulfill your assignment in life. You can combine giving, which should be done in private, with witnessing. You can combine your evangelism with serious intercession. Make full proof of your calling by engaging in both private and public ministry. God bless you.

PRAYER POINT:

Introduce a balance into your private and public ministry. How often do you minister to God?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 20-23

Mark 15:6-32

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

SELFISHLY PROSPEROUS?

DATE: SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2018

THEME: SELFISHLY PROSPEROUS? 

MEMORISE:

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Proverb 28:27

READ: Luke 16:19-26

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

MESSAGE 

It is a dangerous thing to be selfishly prosperous because Proverb 11:26 says:

“ He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.”

This scripture is a warning to those who hoard goods that are meant for sale in order to make inordinate profit. The Bible says such people are under divine curse. You better desist from such acts if you are one them. Instead of giving out to the needy, some so-called rich people would rather allow their excess loaves of bread and can of milk go stale and sour, and end up in the waste dump.

The rich man in today’s bible text is a typical example of people who are selfishly prosperous. Luke 16:21 tells of how he related with Lazarus, saying:

“And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”

If the rich man had been alive to his responsibility as a custodian of God’s blessing, Lazarus would have been fed daily with the excess from his table. Instead, he was not mindful of Lazarus’s sufferings. Apart from the lack of food in the midst of plenty, dogs also came and licked Lazarus’ sores! Why was it dogs attending to Lazarus’ and not the medical personnel in the service of the rich man? The rich man was indeed selfishly prosperous. Proverbs 19:17 says:

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

No wonder this rich man had to experience begging and agony in the afterlife. Beloved, know that the purpose of God’s blessing upon your life is to be His divine treasure, and one of your mandates is to help the needy around you. He will bless you the more when you realize this and fulfill your mandate.

The story of a rich philanthropist who helped to educate the child of a poor peasant laborer. This child later went on to invent a drug that saved the life of the grandchild of this philanthropist. The philanthropist was rich and generous. This is a very good combination. He would have lost grandchild but for the drug invented by a child he helped educate. An adage says “one good turn deserves another.” When you pray for divine prosperity, ensure you know what you are asking for. You may not get it if you will be selfish with God’s provision in your life.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please bless me and use me to meet the needs of Your Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 16-19

Mark 14:53-15:5

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 4:  TRUST AND OBEY.

1. 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.

o Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. 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 blessed if we trust and obey.

4. 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.

5. 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.

HE WILL SURELY REMEMBER

DATE:  FRIDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2018

THEME: HE WILL SURELY REMEMBER.

MEMORISE:

And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing Donald e for him. Esther 6:3

READ: Esther 6:1-12 

1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may 

array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

MESSAGE 

One characteristic attribute of our Father in heaven is that He remembers details of past, present and future events. For this reason, it is dangerous to be part of bad events which He has noted down for judgment, because He will surely remember (1 Samuel 15:2-3). The good thing is that he will surely remember your good works also. Today’s Bible reading narrates a classic example of remembrance of good works. On the night before the day when Haman intended to get the king’s permission to hang Mordecai, the God who specializes in remembering and recompensing good deeds took sleep away from the eyes of King Ahasuerus, and he could not sleep no matter how hard he tried. . Naturally, when a person cannot sleep, he or she tries to find something to do. The Lord used this to lead Ahasuerus to open the book of records for Mordecai’s sake. The king found in it that Mordecai had been instrumental to foiling an assassination plot against him. He then asked a question, which serve as food for thought: “What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?” There is one fundamental lesson that every person, especially children of God, must learn here. It is imperative to always remember every good deed people do to us. A proverb in my native language says, “Failure to appreciate good deeds is like daylight robbery.” I pray that your good works of many years shall be remembered this season, and you shall be honored in Jesus’ Name.

Beloved, learn from the experience of Mordecai that God will always cause people to repay your good deeds. In this regard, the Lord said in Luke 6:38:  

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. ”

What the Lord is saying here is that God will compel men, even when they are not willing, to bless you for your good deeds. The interesting aspect of Mordecai’s is that the fellow who wanted to get permission to kill him came into the palace court just at the nick of time to be used by the king in honoring this same Mordecai. I pray once again that your enemies shall become your stepping stone to glory in Jesus’ Name. I just want to encourage you to be addicted to good works (Romans 12:9). Many children of God block their way to glory and honor because they are bankrupt of good deeds, even though they are born again. Beloved, good deeds are proof of your encounter with the Master who himself went about doing good (Acts 10:38, James 2:18).

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to combine good works with my faith so that I may be like You indeed. Also, please remember me for the past deeds Your Holy Spirit has helped me sow in people’s lives.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 13-15

Mark 14:32-52

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 6: A NEW THING

 (Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)

1. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because GOD will do new things

Sinners will soon be forgiven

Prodigals will come home soon. 

Chorus:

Shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

Rivers in desert now flowing

Halleluyah  to our king.

2. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

Sickness and sorrow will be gone

Bondage will be forgotten. 

3. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

The barren will be fruitful soon

Failure will be forgotten

4. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

Poverty will be forgotten

Stagnancy will soon be gone.

5. We will soon shout Hallelujah

Because God will do new things

To all miracles are given

There shall be celebrations

6. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

Many will have testimonies

Of prayers answered fully

7. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

One of us will chase a thousand

Two will conquer ten thousands.

8. We will soon shout Halleluyah

Because God will do new things

Songs of praises we will sing

Halleluyah to our King.

LESSONS FROM MUD

DATE: THURSDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018

THEME: LESSONS FROM MUD.

MEMORISE:

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7

READ: Jeremiah 18:1-6

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

MESSAGE 

It is amazing that something as precious as humanity could come out from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). However, this could only happen because God worked on it. What a great lesson this is to the wise! Any person who allows God to work on him or her will become a vessel unto honor in God’s hands. The Holy Spirit confirms this truth in 2 Timothy 2:21, saying:

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Unfortunately, observing the history of mankind has taught us that the mud of the earth often seems to be wiser than majority of the people who ever lived. Why? When the Almighty God wanted to make something precious from the dust, it did not protest against God’s work. In contrast to this, what do we see in mankind? We see stiff resistance whenever God wants to glorify Himself through them. For this reason, many people do not fulfill their destinies on earth.

The Lord took Jeremiah to a potter’s house where the potter was working on a lump of clay. In the process, the clay was marred in the potter’s hands and he made it into another vessel that he liked, according to his pleasure. Not once did the clay protest the potter’s intentions. In Jeremiah 18:6, the Lord then asked this question:

“O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Although man was made out of dust he was glorified after the Lord God had worked on him. Along the line however, he became marred through the machinations of the devil. To the glory of God, the Great Potter is working on us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Beloved, have you been worked upon by the Lord? Are you even allowing God to work on you? If not, today is the day of salvation. You must surrender your life to God through Christ and confess your sins to Him for forgiveness. Isaiah prayed a pray on behalf of the nation of Israel, which should also be our prayer today. In Isaiah 64:8-9, he said:

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.”

Learn from the clay in today’s story. If you can pray this prayer today, the Lord will work on your marred life, business, family, job or studies and cause great restoration to take place in them.

ACTION POINT:

Pray the prayer in Isaiah 64:8-9, applying it to appropriate areas of your life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 10-12

Mark 14:10-31

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 4:  TRUST AND OBEY.

1. 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.

o Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. 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 blessed if we trust and obey.

4. 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.

5. 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.

IT SHALL NOT STAND

DATE: WEDNESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2018

THEME: IT SHALL NOT STAND

MEMORISE:

For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Psalm 125:3

READ: Nehemiah 4:1-15

1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

MESSAGE

I want you to see today’s topic as a prophetic word from God coming to you with power. You may be wondering “What is it that shall not stand”? The counsel of the wicked against you shall not stand in Jesus’ Name. in this regard, there are many lessons to be learnt from Nehemiah and his team of builders. It is amazing that there are people who are opposed to good things of life, but the good news is that for those who know the true God, the counsel of the wicked will never stand. When Nehemiah got to know of the conspiracy hatched by Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabians and their other devilish allies like the Ammonites and Ashdodites, he called for prayer. Nehemiah 4:9 says:

“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”

Beloved, if your suffering must cease and the conspiracies of the wicked against you must no longer stand, you must learn to pray.

Furthermore, observe that Nehemiah set a watch, day and night, against the evil conspirator. Jesus told the disciples in Mark 14:38 to watch and pray. Nehemiah and his team did not watch alone, because they knew that “except the Lord keep the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1) at the same time, they did not pray alone; they also watched. Very often, children of God fail in the area of watching. They are carefree, but this is not the will of God for our lives. God wants us to be vigilant, so that together with him, we will continue to frustrate the counsel of the wicked. In addition, Nehemiah also did something strategic, as seen in Nehemiah 4:16-17:

“And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”

There was precise division of labor, with everyone knowing his or her responsibility. Every one of them also had their weapon of war ready, even as they engaged in the work of building. To frustrate the counsel of the wicked, we must be sensitive to the Spirit always and be ready to engage in spiritual warfare at all times. Beloved, let us comport ourselves in such a way that our father in heaven will know that we mean business, and He will not allow the counsel of the wicked against our destiny and our endeavors to stand in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, strengthen my hands in battles and frustrate the counsel of my enemies.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 7-9

Mark 13:24-14:9 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 18: CONQUEROR AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE

1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,

Thro' the precious blood of Christ we've victory

If the Lord be for us we can never fail,

Nothing 'gainst His mighty power can e'er prevail.

Chorus

Conquerors are we, thr'o the blood of Jesus

God will give us victory, thro' the blood of Jesus

Through the Lamb for sinners slain,

Yet who lives and reigns again,

More than conquerors are we,

More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel's God we'll onward press,

Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;

Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,

For salvation and for blood bought victory.

3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,

Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,

Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,

And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.