In search of something better- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: SOS 1-3
IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING BETTER Friday, November 26, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10)    READ: Hebrews 11:13-16 “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). Once upon a time human beings were in dread of death. Satan used death as a weapon to get them to do his bidding. But Jesus Christ came and changed that scenario for all who received Him. If you have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, death is outside the list of things you should fear; It has been abolished and you have been empowered to put it where it belongs. Unfortunately, for those who have not believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Satan will continue to torment them with the fear of death. There are millions of people in cults, doing unimaginable havoc such as donating their loved ones and parts of their bodies to Satan just because they don’t want to die; whereas, Jesus freely offers them life (John 10:10).  Have you accepted Christ’s free offer of salvation? Death is a relative term to people. If you are a sinner, you need to fear death because it will open the door way into eternal damnation. Once a sinner dies, there is no more room for repentance. In hell fire, many are repenting of their sins but they cannot be forgiven or be released because they are doing the right thing at the wrong time. Some delays could be very costly: totally beyond repair! Hence, if you have not received Jesus into your heart and life, do so today before it is too late. But to believers in Christ who live in righteousness, death is the door way into eternal bliss and reward. For such people, there will be peace each time they hear the word ‘death’ because they know what is awaiting them (2 Cor. 5:8).  I have noticed that genuine believing men and women who died in Christ show certain signs weeks or months before they die. They would suddenly lose interest in the mundane things of earth and be filled with much yearning as if looking forward to an exciting journey. That was also the experience of patriarchs of old. Abraham could not be satisfied with the pleasures of the earth. He began to look for something better.  There is a better country.  There is a better planet. You can make it to Heaven.  Are you still attached to the earth? Are you prepared for the trip to your eternal home? Are you prepared for death? Don’t let death take you unawares!  Prepare for it by becoming born again and living daily for Jesus. ACTION POINT: The best earth can give to its most favored citizen is not up to a millionth of what the least favored citizen in Heaven gets. One planet is obviously better than the other! N.B Support www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today. It is a christian initiative towards eradication of illiteracy.

LOSING TIME?- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Mal 3 -4
LOSING TIME? Thursday, November 25, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” (Job 7:1) READ: Eccl. 3:1-2 In Genesis 29:15-35, we read that in desiring Rachel, Jacob first served Laban for seven years. And then another seven years. One lesson here is that whether you have a goal or not, time flies. I have been in full time ministry for over 20 years now but it looks like yesterday. Some people do not want to accept that they are getting older. In fact, they will be pleased to hear, ‘You are looking younger’. Some dread the reality of fleeting time to the extent that they do not want to be reminded of their age. Believe it or not, accept it or not, every second that passes, draws you closer to the grave. Whether you have set goals for yourself or not, the spirit of death is anxiously looking forward to its appointment with you (Heb. 9:27). It does not care whether you have achieved your goal or not. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says there is a time to be born and a time to die. The day you were born, you began a trip to the grave. This is a journey you have to make willingly or unwillingly. Every passing second draws you closer to that destination. Every time someone celebrates a birthday, the fellow draws closer to the grave. Hence, birthdays should not be for partying alone but for sober reflection; Ask yourself: ‘Another year has just gone drawing me closer to my appointment with death; How did I move closer to accomplishing my goal? With this new year I am starting today, what can I do to reach my goal?’ “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” (Job 7:1). Everyone is expected to accomplish the various tasks, assignments and goals within an appointed time. As a growing child, you have about five years to go through your secondary school. If you stay there for 10 years, you will still graduate but you would have lost substantial time that could have be used to settle another appointment -with your university education. If after years of divine investments, you are still laying hands to heal headaches and you are celebrating this, when Heaven expects you to be able to heal cancer and HIV/AIDs, you have lost time and should be mourning. If at the time you should be able to tarry in God’s presence and pray for five hours at a stretch, you are celebrating your ability to pray for 30 minutes, you have lost time. Have you recorded a commensurate growth that corresponds with your spiritual age? Ask God to help you today. ACTION POINT: Take stock today: How old are you? How many of your goals have you achieved? What have been your major hindrances to achieving them? How can you make up and achieve them within the next one, two, three or five years? N.B Make it your goal to help someone in our goal of eradication of illiteracy, visit www.10millionexercisebooks.com today.

FIT FOR THE NEW WINE?- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Mal 1 - 2
FIT FOR THE NEW WINE? Wednesday, November 24, 2010
MEMORIZE: “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thess. 4:4) READ: 1 Peter 1:14-16 Apart from total obedience, commitment and cooperation, another requirement for the new wine is holiness. The word ‘holiness’ can be correctly interchanged for ‘obedience’. In 1 Peter 1:14-16, the new wine Giver says because He is holy, so must you be to partake of this new wine. It takes possessing the nature of God to access this wine. You cannot be enjoying sin and expect to partake of it.  Some people are in a waiting game with God. They are praying, fasting and seeking God’s face for more of the anointing in their lives whereas God is waiting for them to deal with anger, strife, bitterness, unforgiving spirit, and other weaknesses before He answers their prayers. They are waiting for God to act while God is waiting for them to act. Are you caught up in this waiting game? Check your life and amend your ways and the new wine will come. Exodus 15:26 talks of God keeping away the diseases that afflict unbelievers from His covenant children if only they can obey Him. There is a movement towards increasing danger due to different identified and unidentified causes.  For many years, cancer was the most dreaded of diseases but today, HIV/ AIDs has  joined in the rank of the world’s most dreaded diseases.  In fact, for those who are not properly counseled, the mere report from the lab that they are HIV positive triggers their trip to the grave. There is much information today about the depleting of the ozone layer and its negative effects on human beings. These are some reasons why you must have the new wine. Those with the new wine will not only be unaffected by these strange or new diseases or epidemic but will be the ones to pray for the victims and bring divine healing to their doorsteps. As a result of the power of the new wine, those with sicknesses and diseases can be drawn to the Kingdom of God and that will be harvest for God. God is ready to give the new wine but the issue is that Christians are not ready to pay the price. What is preventing you from receiving the new wine today? Ask for divine purging to make you a suitable vessel for the new wine. ACTION POINT: Father, whatever will stand between me and the new wine, take out of my life today. Join www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today, support the eradication of illiteracy.

Improving Service Delivery- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Hag 1 -2
IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY Tuesday, November 23, 2010
MEMORIZE: “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute” (Prov. 12:24) READ: Prov. 22:28-29 One patriarch of old who got a turn around miracle was Elisha. His sacrificial stride changed his entire life. One thing is common with those chosen by God: hardwork! Do you know God loves hard working people? Proverbs 22:29 says, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men”. This simply tells us of the importance of hardwork. It is so crucial to life that it is a major determinant of your position, location and the people you will be frolicking with in the society.  If you are hard working, it does not matter where you are now; if you can sustain that quality or standard of delivery, sooner than later, it will relocate you to a preferred place.  Your work in a sense helps you to find an appropriate location. If you are wining and dining with the lowly, it could have been determined by the quality of work. Some people spend several hours at works but the quality of their output is nothing to write home about. This means that hardwork alone is not sufficient: you must ensure there is high quality of service delivery. Several buildings in major cities have collapsed as a result of substandard materials. If you want to improve on the quality of service delivery, there is need to evaluate your present quality service, set your goals, identify the variance between the present quality and your targeted quality; clearly define the steps you need to take to get to your targeted goal and be prepared to give great time to work on realizing that goal backed up with prayer. Do you know you can deliver better sermons than you do now? Do you know your voice production can come out better as you minister as a choir member? Do you know that you can teach your Sunday School class in such a way that your students would always look forward to attending Sunday School? This talks of the need for training and self development. If the quality of your service must improve, then you must take advantage of all available training programs that are related with your department. You must be prepared to spend some money in your bid to acquire more knowledge in your area of ministry.  What is the quality of your service today? ACTION POINT: Prayerfully and thoughtfully list 15 ways of improving whatever you do so as to enhance quality service, ensure speed, and eradicate time wastage. N.B Be a part of this service to mankind, support the www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today.

Help from your Neighbourhood- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Zeph 1-3
HELP FROM YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD Monday, November 22, 2010
MEMORIZE: “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:6) READ: Psalm 126:5-6 To hit your financial breakthrough, you may not necessarily have to relocate physically but spiritually and mentally. Some people believe that they cannot become comfortable until they either live leave their neighbourhood or their nation in search of greener pastures. Many have undergone such physical or geographical relocation yet, things have not improved for them. Except God asks you to leave where you are, stay there and His blessings will meet you there. God still blesses people within their neighborhoods. During a famine period, Isaac favored a geographical relocation but the Lord specifically asked him to stay and sow. He obeyed and got an impossible harvest. The Lord will prosper you where you are as long as you obey Him. Within your neighbourhood lies a river with the fish bearing your gold coin. All you have to do is go a -fishing and you will hit your breakthrough. Sometime ago, a particular young lady came up to me to ask what I wanted for Christmas. Initially I told her just anything she could afford but when she pressed harder, I asked for a jet. She laughed and said that I knew she could not even afford a bicycle. Then she left only to return with a brand new car. Surprised, I asked her how she could afford money for a brand new car and she told me she was busy doing house to house evangelism one day when she visited a particular house. After sharing the Gospel with a man there who coincidentally was a rich man, the latter received Christ as Lord and became so filled with joy that he decided to appreciate her for the joy of salvation by that token gift. If she had not evangelized her neighbourhood, she would have missed that opportunity! Although you do not go out to preach to souls with the purpose of asking for the help of your converts, yet, God could deliver great blessings to you through this. Do you know some converts have become the spouses of some who have waited for a spouse for several years? God raises financial pillars, helpers, etc. from the unsaved. Refusing to preach the Gospel automatically delays everyone-the Body of Christ, each local assembly and you. Do you know that apart from the spiritual rewards, if you could win several souls, you will not be stranded physically? Your spiritual children will not leave you stranded. Be wise! ACTION POINT: Reach out to souls this period and as you win them to the Lord, return home to ask God to release your blessings to you. N.B This is a godly venture you should be a part of, www.10millionexercisebooks.com project towards eradication of illiteracy. Join us today.

Fulfilment of Promises- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Hab 1-5
FULFILLMENT OF PROMISES Sunday, November 21, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4) READ: 2 Peter 1:1-4 When it is time for divine favor, God does not only give you an opportunity to key into it by sowing, but also personally asks of you. In addition, at such a time, pending promises and prophecies are fulfilled. When the time Heaven has set to favor you comes, there would be no more delays or postponement of God’s promises.  They will suddenly assume the form of being ‘Yes and Amen’ in the life of the favored. After waiting for 24 years for a promise from God, at the time of God’s favor, the Lord suddenly changed His promise to Abraham into an unchangeable decree. Similarly, after Peter was promised a harvest of men in Luke 5:8-11, nothing happened for the first three years. Peter must have wondered if the Lord had forgotten, but He did not. Finally, at the descent of the Holy Ghost being the day of his favor, the one who could not catch a human fish started to harvest thousands from every sermon. When God gives you a promise, wait on it until the day of your favor.  Do not let go until that day, for that is the time of its fulfillment.  Every promise the Lord has made to you shall come to pass in Jesus’ Name. I went with my Father in the Lord in the company of four others to a Kenneth Hagin’s camp meeting in the United States of America in 1979.   That was our first trip to the USA. As the meeting ended on Saturday, we decided to worship with them the following day.  While translating the message to my father in the Lord since he could not speak, read, write or understand English, the preacher suddenly walked to him and said: “Thus saith the Lord, What I told you several years ago will soon be fulfilled”. And he returned to continue his message. When we got to our hotel later that day and I told him what the preacher said, he broke down in tears saying at the beginning of the RCCG, the Lord promised that if he would keep to certain conditions, He would ensure the church spreads throughout the world. As at the time of this camp meeting, the church had only 39 parishes in addition to the Headquarters church but after my father in the Lord went home to glory in 1980, we have over 4,000 parishes in Lagos State alone; today our presence is felt in all 36 states of Nigeria and in more than 109 nations of the world because it is the time of our favor.  This season, the Lord will fulfill pending promises in your life. ACTION POINT: Father, fulfill all your pending promises in my life, family, ministry and business today through  Your favor.  Let my day of favor not bypass me. N. B Don't forget to be a blessing to somebody join www.10millionexercisebooks.com project to eradicate illiteracy today

USE THE WORD SKILLFULLY- Daily devotional by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Nah 1-3
USE THE WORD SKILLFULLY Saturday, November 20, 2010
MEMORIZE: “For precept must be upon precept, precept, upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isaiah 28:10) READ: Isaiah 28:9-13 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Another veritable tool of a shepherd is his staff.  Ordinarily, this is just a piece of wood but in the hands of a skillful shepherd, it is a dangerous weapon which can be used against intruders and attackers like wolves. In spiritual parlance, this refers to the skillful application of God’s Word.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. It is one thing to have or know the Word of God: it is another thing to know how to effectively apply it to situations.  Depending on the skillfulness of the user, the Word of God can be a sword or empty words.  If the devil knows that you know how to use the Word as a weapon, he will approach you with caution.  Every time you resist the enemy using the appropriate scripture, a spiritual sword pierces his heart and much injury and distress can be inflicted. Do you know how to skillfully use the Word? “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Many people have a knowledge of the truth yet, they still remain in bondage. Knowing the Word is not enough: you need wisdom to correctly apply  it so that you can receive the benefits it should deliver to you. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). The wise Bible scholar would know that there are several conditions attached to each promise of God’s Word.  If you fail to search through the Bible to fish them out and connect them to fit as in a jigsaw puzzle, that promise might remain a mirage. For instance, many quote and claim healing scriptures such as ‘I am healed by his stripes’ (Is. 53:5) but fail to fulfill necessary conditions such as returning to God in true repentance and humility (2 Chron. 7:14); receiving God’s Word with faith (Psalm 107:20; Heb. 4:2); living a life of service (Exo. 23:25) a good dose of exercises (1 Tim 4:8); eating balanced diet; living in holiness, etc. Do not stop at holding on to a promise: take time to search for all the necessary conditions for them to be fulfilled. It takes hardwork to search the Scriptures. How often do you do this? ACTION POINT: The believer who knows how to effectively divide (use) God’s Word is a very dangerous and highly dreaded individual. He is noted in hell. (N.B Have you supported www.10millionexercisebooks.com project yet? Join us today).