WWJD

Hebrew 12:2 -Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WWJD means what will Jesus do .

This is a question every believer needs to ask his or herself before taking an action or saying something. According to Heb 12:2 , Jesus should be our role model . We should model our lives,speech or thoughts after him.Ephesians 5:1 says Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children.

How can we model our lives after Jesus ?by doing what He did, by seeing people the way He saw people, by acting the way He acted,by dealing with  challenges the way he dealt with challenges.What Jesus do ? According to Acts 10:38 , He went about doing good.

How did He see people?When they brought the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-12 , He didn't condemn her,He didn't look down her, he didn't say women cannot be trusted, with love He told her go and sin no more.

How did He act? According to John 13:1-17,He washed the feet of His disciples.He was a leader who served His followers.Are you serving those the Lord has committed to your hands or you are busy expecting them to call you boss or use sir when they address you? Despite all peter did to Him, He forgave him. Peter was one of the closest disciples to Jesus,Jesus promised that on him will He build His church -Matthew 16:18, Jesus helped Peter come out of failure when he fished all night and caught nothing -Luke 5:1-5,He even showed Peter His glory at the mount of transfiguration -Matthew 17:1-13 and what did Peter do after all this ? He denied Jesus three times! Despite all this ,Jesus still forgave him and used him .

In what way has that individual offended you and you have sworn never to forgive him or her? Please forgive them .
Prayer Point: Father help me to model my life after Jesus.

Love will be tested

Thursday 6 September                           Bible in one year :Daniel 7-9

Memorise: Hereby perceive we the love of God ,because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren .1 john 3:16

Read :Genesis 22:1-2

Not only is love expensive, it may also undergo a trial.if you don’t believe ask Abraham. At a time, Abraham was town between his promised child Isaac and God. It became inevitable for God to test whether he still loved Him (Genesis 22:1-2).Whether you like or not ,your love for God will be tested.Usually it will be based on someone or something you really love. Isaac was about 15 years before the test. Abraham had become so fond of him to the point of been inseparable from him. I went through my own test some years ago. It was during a Christ the Redeemer’s Congress which held on the 24th December. It was my custom to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with my mother because of my love for her.I therefore decided to visit her on the 23rd of December, just to see her and give her some few things before the Congress.I arrived at her house very late . As i knocked, somebody else opened the door and rejoiced that i had come. I was briefed on my mother’s illness and told she was almost at the point of death. At this time, there was no telephone to communicate with others to delegate my assignment. So i prayed for her and told her that i love her but i love God more, that after the Congress i would come back to see her , alive or dead. That  was tough then but after the Congress she was still alive when i returned and she lived for another 15 years. In other words, God extended her life like Hezekiah’s after helping me  through that test of love.

Your love may be tested in the fiery furnace or in the lion’s den.  Since Jesus laid down His life for you, He expects nothing less from you to your brethren (1 John 3:16). It is either you love God to the extreme or you don’t.I once shared with my children that to succeed could be quite expensive because of the requirement to study at night when others are sleeping, or study in the day while others are playing. One may even be called a bookworm and other names, yet that is a far cheaper price to pay than failure. If you fail,you will become a servant to your colleagues who succeeded. Every Christian may claim to be born again and on their way to Heaven ,yet it is only the few who really love Him that will make it on the last day.You can be part of the few!

Action Point: Every disciples of Jesus will be required to take the test of love,Ask for grace to scale through.

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye.

Glory and Sacrifice

Wednesday 5 September                      Bible in one year : Daniel 4-6

Memorise: Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.Hebrew 11:25

Read:Hebrew 11:24-27

The one who has not fully made up his mind about his relationship with God,might be tempted to compromise the Gospel message or the specific errand he or she is asked to deliver to the affluent in society when given the opportunity to stand before them.When compromise sets in , the glory departs.Compromise is a great deflector of God’s glory.When you stand before kings to tell them the truth,even when they do not like to hear the truth,God increases His glory upon your life.There are several children of God who stood before kings in bible days and never compromised:Young David, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel and Paul, all stood before kings without compromising.In fact ,Daniel was very outstanding. He remained in the corridors of power for a very long time.Successive kings found him so invaluable that they retained him so as to give credibility and add value to their kingdoms. There is a user of this devotional who will soon stand before kings.God is giving you the opportunity to stand before kings.But when the time comes to pass, do not be intimidated , and do not change your message . Speak the truth and God will uphold you.

Can God send you to a palace of pleasure or a dangerous zone without you compromising?if money or self gratification is uppermost in you heart , you will sure forget your main reason for going. It was dangerous for Moses to accept God’s call to go and meet Pharaoh. That errand could have cost him his life,yet he went.He made a choice that could hurt him.What were gains to him,he counted as loss just like Paul. It was a great honor to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter- a prince,yet he told the people to stop calling him that. In other words, he despised the title that would have opened doors to him everywhere he went in Egypt,but rather chose to suffer with endangered species (the Israelite). He preferred the reproaches of Christ greater treasures compared to the sinful pleasures of Egypt.No wonder he carried God’s glory to the extent that people could not look at his shining face. What sacrifice have you made to earn the glory of God you are asking for?Paul gave up his academic achievements just to be a carrier of higher levels of glory. Without sacrifice, you can never climb high on the glory ladder.

ACTION POINT: It is faithfulness that keeps you uncompromising in the midst of pressures. Ask for grace to remain faithful wherever you are.

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye.

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.