DAILY DEVOTION

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Friday, May 23
1 Kings 8:31-36

SIN AGAINST A NEIGHBOUR AND GOD
...Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel .... 1 Kings 8:34, KJV

King Solomon addressed two issues in His prayer. The first was establishing who is guilty and who is innocent when two persons (or neighbours) are in disagreement, by coming to swear an oath before the altar in the temple. The other has to do with God forgiving any sinner who truly asks for His forgiveness.

It is important for us as children of God to be quick at acknowledging our faults and sin whether against our neighbours or God, rather than looking for ways to cover them and thus attract God's wrath. Proverbs 28: 13 says, "He who covers his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them, finds mercy."

It is of no use attempting to shy away from your sins, rather, confess immediately and forsake them so that the "time of refreshing may come from the presence of our God". Also, ask those whom you have offended to forgive you. Do not wait until it is too late.

Remember your offering will not be acceptable to God until you have settled your score with your neighbour(s).

• Birthday Blessing: "...but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him" - Psalm 32: 10

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 14, 15; John 6: 1-21

A good test of character - when we do wrong, who do we blame? – Haddon Robinson

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

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Thursday, May 22
Leviticus 19:11-17

RELATING TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR
… Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour... Leviticus 19: 13, KJV

We need to be reminded that our neighbours are those with whom we relate or meet from time to time. Technology, to a large extent, has changed our perception on the definition of a neighbour.

In today's passage, God, speaking through His servant Moses, gives us some golden rules to apply when relating with our neighbours - we should not steal or defraud our neighbours, we should also be fair to them. In verse 14, God notes the fact that some of the people we meet on daily basis could be physically challenged, hence He warns us against abusing them or taking undue advantage of them by misleading them.

Also, God does not want us to spread rumours among ourselves, neither does He want us to hate one another. Instead, we should express God's love among ourselves and correct those who wrong us in love. If there is any misunderstanding between you and your classmate, neighbour etc., settle it today.

Encourage your parents to stop keeping malice with your neighbour(s) if you notice anything like that. Love that physically challenged fellow in your church if there is any.

• Birthday Blessing: "In the time of my favour I will answer you..." - Isaiah 49:8

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 12, 13; John 5:28-47

The Christian is supposed to love his neighbour, and since his wife is his nearest neighbour, she should be his deepest love. – Martin Luther

Daily Devotional

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Wednesday, May 21
Deuteronomy 11:1-7

KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENT ALWAYS
Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. Deuteronomy 11: 1, NIV

If you made the wise choice yesterday, then you know that the only thing required more is for you to be consistent.

Yes, consistency is the word. God wants you to always keep His Words. It is no use beginning something when you know you cannot continue in it. To "continue the word always" implies being consistent both in the secret and in the open. It also implies being consistent both in good and bad times, when it is convenient and not convenient.

Whether you are rich or poor, you must keep God's commandment always. God is counting on you to keep His Word always.
Every investment of God over you is to achieve the purpose of keeping His instructions.

Do you know that it is all for your good? God has nothing to lose if you fail to obey Him. You are the one who is playing game with your life, both here and in eternity. Be wise!

• Birthday Blessing: "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them..." - Psalm 34: 17

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 10, 11; John 5:1-27

To my God, a heart of flame; to my fellow men, a heart of love; to myself, a heart of steel. – Augustine

Daily Devotional

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Monday, May 19
Deuteronomy 7:7-16

LOVE AND COMMANDMENT KEEPING
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God ... keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations.... Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV

Whatever God asks us to do is for our own good and for His own glory. However, if we refuse to obey Him, He will still be glorified through other means though we will not be blessed. Just as God loved the Israelites, He has chosen us out of His love. His faithfulness never comes to an end. They are always new.

Knowing this, what manner of man or woman should you be?
Simply, God expects you to reciprocate this by loving Him and keeping His commands. God's love should gear you to do His will. He who does not love God cannot keep His commandment.

In "Experiencing God", Henry Blackaby rightly stated that if you have a problem obeying God, you actually have a love problem. The question then is, do you love God? (John 14:15, 21:24). Keeping God's commands without love for Him attracts no blessing.

But carefully obeying His Words because you love Him brings numerous blessings your way. As from today, love God and keep His Words and your blessings will be sure.

• Birthday Blessing: "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, ...." - Psalm 2:8

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 7; John 4: 14-39

By obeying God's commands, you will gain more than you can give. – Thomas Brooks

DAILY DEVOTION

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Sunday, May 18
Matthew 15: 1-18

WHAT PROCEEDS FROM THE HEART
For out of the heart come evil thoughts... Matthew 15: 19, NIV

In the passage today, Jesus states in clear terms that our actions on a daily basis are products of our mind. The Scripture says, "Carefully guard your thought because they are the source of true life." (Proverbs 4:23, CEV).

You cannot speak or act out something your heart did not receive. The bottom-line is that all things proceed from the heart. Every issue of life emanates from the heart; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Therefore, guard your heart; x-ray whatever goes into it through these gateways:
Eye (what you see or read);
Nose (what you smell);
Tongue (what you taste);
Ear (what you hear or listen to); and
Skin (What you touch or feel).

As a child of God, allow the Holy Spirit to mould your heart and make it right. Follow the instructions as recorded in Romans 12:1-2. An evil heart cannot produce good words. Therefore, get your heart right with God so that the proceeds thereof will be good.

• Birthday Blessing: "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you ... to be His people ...." - Deuteronomy 7:6

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 5, 6; John 4:1-13

You are influenced more by what you think is so than what actually is so. Your perceptions of reality do more to govern your behaviour than reality itself. – Eric

DAILY DEVOTION

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Friday, May 16

Matthew 5:27-37

BUT I SAY TO YOU

... Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28, NIV

The Scripture says that in the past God spoke through His prophets, but today He has spoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1: 1-2).

According to Henry Blackabay, in "Experiencing God," the Lord speaks to us by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, the church and circumstances. Is His Word saying anything to you? God has a word for every situation. But, people do not always hear Him!

Jesus, in today's passage, gave us a better understanding about sexual sin. This is not the same as the Old Testament Law.
Jesus said things that were different from what men had known and practised on the issue of sexual immorality.

Thus, the popular saying that the voice of men is the voice of God (vox populi, vox Dei) is not correct. What will make it correct is if it agrees with what God says. You need to know that it is better to hear God's voice, but the best is to obey Him when He speaks, even if it is different from what you have always known and practised (James 1 :22).

• Birthday Blessing: "For the LORD will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they" - Jeremiah 31:11

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 2; John 3: 1-21

No one can hurt you without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt

PRAYER FOR NIGERIA

EDITATE ON ACTS 12:1-11 GIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO VERSE 5.
THE LORD LAID THIS ON MY HEART. WE NEED DIVINE INTERVENTION NOW EVER THAN BEFORE. WE DO NOT ONLY NEED TO BRING BACK THE GIRLS WE NEED TO BRING BACK THE CHURCH. KIDNAP OF THE GIRLS IS A SYMPTOM OF A DEEP SEATED DISEASE WHICH THE ENEMY HAS AFFLICTED THE CHURCH WITH. PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THOSE GIRLS MORE TO HEAL THE CHURCH OF SLUMBER AND NEGLECT AND CONVERT THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH FROM THEIR WAYS OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE TO WAYS OF PEACE AND LOVE.

1. Pray for forgiveness of our numerous sins especially massive bloodshed in Nigeria. Pray for forgiveness of the sins of the global church. mention the ones you know. pray against power of satan, self and satan that fuel sin, power struggles among leaders, making church altar to become powerless and prayers of the church to be like mere noise. pray against altars of darkness raised against christian leaders to dig holes into their armour, and blunt their utterances.

2. Thank God for His covenants over the church. He has promised that the gate of hell will not prevail against the church

3.pray for massive revival of godliness in the church
pray for fresh Pentecost power in the church

4. pray against spirit of Herod manifesting in all forms of terrorist groups oppressing and persecuting the church all over the world especially in Nigeria

5. Pray that as God delivered Peter He will deliver christians like the Chibok girls from the prison of the Herod and his like.

6. pray for angelic reinforcement. the type that led Peter out of chains between 2 warders

7. pray for repentance of the violent oppressors of the church. pay that their eyes will be opened their heats will be circumcised by the love of God.

8. Pray for global Peace so that evangelism will not be hindered

9. Pray for power for the church to pray without ceasing

10. Pray against power of darkness which weakens, confuses and hardens Nigeria leaders. demolish altars of foolishness raised against them. pray that they will receive the Spirit of The Lord, Spirit of Wisdom, Understanding, fear of The Lord, counsel, might, knowledge (Isaiah 11:1-2).

11. Pray for President Goodluck Jonathan, other government officials and church leaders that God will release special wisdom and grace to them to lead the Nigeria through this treacherous 2014/2015

12. Pray for grace to pray without ceasing and to daily stand in the gap for the global church and Nigeria at least one hour everyday.One in the gap can fill the gap, you can be that One.

Your sister,

Femi Okunlola,
CHURCH PRAY WITHOUT CEASING