FINGER OF CREATION

Tuesday 4 September                       Bible in one year: Daniel 1-3
Memorise: When i consider thy heavens,the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars,which thou hast ordained; Psalm 8:3
Read: Psalms 19:1-6
When the Lord sent Moses to ask for the release of the children of Israel, nothing happened until the magicians saw the finger of God.
Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened , and he hearkened not unto them ; and the Lord had said.Exodus 8:19
Thereafter,it was no more business as usual. This season , you will encounter the finger of God and your situation shall change dramatically in Jesus Name. The finger of God is significant in many ways and has definite implications for us.According to Psalms 8:3, it is an agent of creation.
When i consider thy heavens,the work of thy fingers,the moon and the stars,which thou hast ordained;
God created what we can see on earth today with His hands;hence Psalms 19:1 says the firmament is God’s handiwork. The implication of this is that when the finger of God comes into a situation ,the power of creation steps in, ready to create or recreate whatever is needed.Does your body need some new parts?The finger of God will recreate what is needed.When Jesus came across a man with the withered hand in Mark 3:1-5, the finger of God was brought into his situation and his hand was recreated to be like other hand.Is one of you hands or legs shorter or smaller than the other? The touch of His finger shall correct the defect. In addition to this,if you are lacking in ideas,useful suggestions and plans and the finger of God touches you,your creative abilities will suddenly  receive a boost. Are you short of ideas that can give your business or church a positive turn around? The finger of God will touch you and what you lacked shall be created.As the Lord touches you today,everything that is lacking in  your ministry,finances , and family shall come into being. They shall be created. Ask the finger of God will touch you today. Release your faith and expect the impossible but desirable take place.Your  situation is about to turn around for the best.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in any area I am in need,by Your finger supply that need
Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E A Adeboye

Vanity of Influential people

VANITY OF INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

Monday 3 September                              Bible in one year: Esther 8-10

Memorise: The Lord is good,a strong hold in day of trouble;and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

Read : Hosea 10:13-15

Due to the nature of man,placing your hope on associates can cause the death of your expectations. The reasons some are hopeful of getting a job or a particular contract is because a friend or close associate has assured them of assistance. Never allow any associate take the place of God in your life!In Jeremiah 9:2-4,Jeremiah warned the Israelite that they should not put their trust in their brother or neighbor because their lifestyles was replete with lies.Jesus did not commit Himself to man because He could see how vain they were(John 2:24-25). For those living in these last days, the Bible paints a bleak picture of their character even believers are not spared because,commitment to the truth is ebbing fast. It is increasingly difficult to really have someone to trust among professing Christians today because many have adopted and retained some level of falsehood. Before you enter into partnership with fellow believers, be led of God to the specific believer or else, you would be thoroughly disappointed by the actions of some Christians whose lives have been taken over by the love of money and falsehood.

Similarly , any expectation build on influential people such as those in government ,family,church , academia,trade unions,etc., can easily disappoint because those making the promises are ordinary men. How many people who voted into public offices have truly kept their promises? Basing your hopes on such people could cause a heart attack when they disappoint you.God raised the nation of Israel through the ranks; from humble beginnings with inexperienced soldiers to a greatly fortified nation with mighty warriors . But what did the people do? They took their trust from God and placed it in their mighty men. No wonder God told them they would fail (Hosea 10:13-15). The  confidence of some Christians has shifted from God to their prayer contractors. Even some church leaders now put their trust in their prayer band members forgetting that when men pray, it is left to God whether to answer or not. If He refuses to answer, you cannot take Him to court. Let your trust be in the Lord.

KEY POINT: It is either you trust in God or in man. Who trust determines whether you are blesses or not.

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E A Adeboye

Beyond Request

Sunday 2 September                                 Bible in one year: Esther 4-7

Memorise: A little one among you shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten in in his time.Isaiah 60:22

Read: John 2:1-11

God is unlimited in generosity hence Romans 8:32 says if He could give up His Son, what else can’t He give to us? When Solomon made request in 2 Chronicles 1:6-12 , all he asked for was wisdom, yet God went beyond his request to give even the things he never asked for . This He did to prove to Solomon that God was inestimable in his life, that even though Solomon can be exhausted after giving 1000 burnt offerings,He cannot be exhausted while giving. This year, the Lord will not be tired of blessing you. You will give to Him and ask for one thing and God will you give you ten things -asked and unasked. In John 2:1-11, they only told Him they needed some wine. Instead of giving them a few bottles, He gave them 162 gallons which is over 700 litres (British imperial system) of the purest wine. He did not order for them from the winery but simply spoke to the water and said : ” Water, I need you to serve me not as water but as wine” and immediately the water became wine. Today, the Lord will speak sweetness into your tasteless situation in Jesus name.

Where God takes His supplies from ,there is much more left. The whole of man kind can never exhaust God’s resources,much less it being exhausted while serving only you.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil;my cup runnest over. Psalms 23:5

I once asked God, “why the waste?” And He said: “so that you will know that i have unlimited blessings.There is plenty from where the blessings in coming from”. Isaac sowed in a time of famine and he received 100 fold returns, and God added to him a large flock of cattle and a great store on servants ( Genesis 26:12-14). Esau on the other hand got only a tiny blessings, yet he had 400 bodyguards (Genesis 32:6). That is why wise believers will never joke with their tithes even for once. Why? Malachi 3:10 says when you pay your tithe , you are asking God to demonstrate what He can do. Your tithe will make God flex His muscles, ready to bless you ,while paying your first fruits will cause your barns to burst (Proverbs 3:9-10). As you obey Him completely and ask in accordance to His word, you will get beyond your request. You will knock on one door and 10 doors will open to you.This is possible because God is a God of super abundance.

ACTION POINT: Have you ever asked God one thing and He gave you beyond that request? If you answer is No , do so now. If your answer is Yes, ask  Him to repeat it.

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye.

Like Jesus

Saturday 1 September                        Bible in one year: Esther 1-3

Memorise: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth unrighteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1 John 3:7

Read: 1 John 3:7

The call to salvation is a call to holiness. After you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour, it does not end there; the journey to heaven as only just began. Before you were saved, you manifested the works of flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). But now that you have encountered Jesus Christ at salvation, the fruit of the Spirit is expected from you (Galatians 5:22-23). Every attempt at righteousness before your salvation was equal to self righteousness which is as filthy rags to God ( Isaiah 64:6);hence Paul says his self –righteousness no longer counts but the righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9). God has not only saved us and given us the spirit of righteousness, He also expects us to live a life in agreement with His standard. Today, some people think that it is enough to be born again and that nothing else is required. No! It is not enough! The truth is your new birth gives you the platform on which to build on, having secured God’s righteousness through your faith in Christ Jesus.

We are called to be like our Saviour Jesus Christ. In 1 John 2:1, Jesus is called the righteous, and verse 29 says

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him
This means that the fruit of righteousness that you bear will be used to determine whether you are born of God or not. 1 John 3:7 says

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

God is not saying you should be holier than Jesus. Even Jesus says it is enough for a servant to be like his master (Luke 6:40). If God expected works or righteousness from Jesus, He expects the same from you. If you look at the letters the Lord wrote to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, you will notice that He kept repeating that those who will qualify for those wonderful rewards are only the believers who overcome as he also over came. In every point Jesus overcame, you too should. You must live a life that manifests that victory Christ has given you over the flesh, Satan and the world. You must allow Him to live His righteous life through you. Are you daily living a life of righteousness?

KEY POINT: Jesus is God’s unchangeable standard for man. Be like Him in everything including living righteous living.

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E.A  Adeboye.

Pride erodes good record.

Friday 31 August                                Bible in one year: Hosea 11-14

Memorise: A man’s pride shall bring him low;but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23

Read : Revelations 3:14-22

In today’s reading , the Lord wrote a letter to the church in Laodicea. Let us briefly look at their background. Laodicea was a strong financial centre in those days.It had rich inhabitants who thought since they had virtually all they needed,they did not need God. It was the heart of textile manufacturing ,providing specialised medical care for eyes and ears. The church in Laodicea was equally inhabited by wealthy members who thought they could do anything with money.Being wealthy they could afford the best of clothes and medical care.Their comfort and affluence made them  proud people.

If you look closely, the church in Laodicea was the only one out of seven that the Lord had nothing good to say about.Even as bad as sardis was,it still had some good people.Meanwhile,they saw themselves as the happening church,the rich and the affluent church.Laodicea was a church that had all its physical needs met.They could afford the most fantastic auditorium,equipped with the best and most expensive musical instruments.They could afford to publicise every program on air and do glamorous banners. Their church could be said to be what most of our churches today dream to be.On Sundays, if you saw a sister there, you would think there was  a fashion parade  or beauty pageant. It was a prosperous church with all members physically prospering.The latest cars were parked in their parking lots.What a church without a need!Meanwhile as they were celebrating their “immense success”, the Lord was lamenting their wretchedness. In His eyes, they were the exact opposite of who they thought they were.May you never see yourself through your eyes bu His eyes.One lesson here is that we need to steer clear of pride as it erodes all the good works.Anyone who is adorned with any pride blocks God’s view of his or her deeds,except the object of pride. If you fill up a two storey building with good works but you are proud,it is only your pride that would be seen. Nothing will be recorded for your good.The proud is in competition with God.Are you proud?

ACTION POINT: Search yourself for any elements of pride and immediately deal with them before they spoil your work.

Excerpts from open heavens by pastor E.A Adeboye.

Prove your love

Thursday 30 August                             Bible in one year : Hosea 8-10
Memorise : By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples ,if ye have love one to another . John 13:35
Read : John 13:34-35
It is very expensive to love God except you do not really have an understanding of this. In John 14:15 Jesus said
if ye love me ,keep my commandments
Ordinarily, there is no big deal in this except when you realise one of His commandments you must keep is to turn the other cheek to the one who slaps you. This is hard. It is hard to have the capacity and resources to carry out revenge but refrain from doing so because of your faith in Jesus Christ. When some Christians found themselves in such situations , they wept as when they saw a rat biting the tail of a cat but the cat could not do anything. Also, John 13:35says : we should love one another as Christ has loved us. This is a difficult task because among those we are told to love are unlovable people.How do you love a so-called brother or sister who is constantly doing everything to provoke you and cause your downfall?How do you love a so-called leader who is a traitor and who discriminates against you? How do you love a pastor who sits on your progress for several years and warns you not to tell his superiors? It is hard.Yet, you have to love them because of Heaven. You have to love and forgive them or else you have gotten to your final bu stop in your Christian race.
Additionally, Psalms 97:10 says if you love the Lord,you must hate evil.To most Christians , that appears like what they regularly do until they isolate some cases and find out that they are not truly keeping this commandment. Some Christian parents see their children dress improperly and dismiss it with a wave of a hand saying : "Don't mind her : she is being childish",yet they do nothing about it. What of wives who dress in seductive manners, virtually showing to the world that they are "available for sale",yet their husbands cannot caution them?Or what of the prayer point the Lord gave to all believers in Matthew 5:43-45? Do you  know that based on this command,we should be praying for all our enemies daily? Did i hear an Amen? Not for the enemies to fall down and die but for God to open their eyes to know the truth and become converted. How many people are keeping this commandment today?
PRAYER POINT:
Lord ,no matter how hard it is, for as along as You have commanded me to obey your Word, grant me grace to obey without complaining.
Excerpts from opens heavens by pastor E.A Adeboye

Maximise your glory

Wednesday 29 August                                    Bible in one year: Hosea 5-7

Memorize: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon,and another glory of the stars : for one star differeth from another star in glory.1 Corinthians 15:41

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

God’s call is not for fun or frivolity. God has a definite purpose for calling you. It is important you acknowledge why He saved and called you because God does not just pour down His glory on people,He does so to assist you in fulfulling His call upon your life.As you respond and totally submit to that call, He will move you from one level of glory to another.According to 1 Corinthians 15:40-41, God has different glory moulds for the different things He created.The bodies of angels are different from  human bodies and both have different glories.Even among lights,there are different level of glory.Among believers in Christ,the story is not different.Believers radiate varying levels of glory due a number of reasons such as: the type of calling on that believer,the price paid to maximise that calling,the level of holiness or obedience the believer operates,prayerlife,Bible study life,worship,praise and thanksgiving life, the degree of pleasing God, etc. You can be a carrier of God’s higher levels of glory if only you are ready to pay the price.

God does not expect you to deviate from your calling as this will not only lead to failure but also make you unable to maximise God’s glory in your life.Moses was called primarily to lead the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage into their promised land.In doing this, the Lord sent him to Pharaoh to ask him to release God God’s people. This assignment was  both dangerous and tempting. It is possible for somebody like Moses who was brought from the bush and made to stand before the king to compromise because of the affluence associated with the palace.Many church leaders and Christian workers today who were given the opportunity to minister to the top brass of the society, have compromised the message or errand they were sent. They found it difficult to tell the truth because they wanted to remain in favour with those in authority. No wonder they cannot optimise God’s glory. If God sends you to the creme de la creme in the society ,you owe them the truth of God’s word. In wisdom deliver to them the Gospel message and where possible make an altar call. God wants you as His witness before panels  ,committees ,kings and the leaders of the society. Be a true witness!Don’t change your message!

KEY POINT: Jesus died for all classes of people ,if you have opportunity to reach any of these classes ,you are privileged; do it with all your might!

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye