Today God asks us to do very little compared to days gone by. He does not ask us to fight with metal swords nor to eat only specific foods or to observe feasts, oblations, and offerings but He does ask us to study. We believe everyone who names the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord needs to study and search out The Truth from God's Perfect Word and that The Holy Spirit is in the world to comfort and guide us as we study to show ourselves approved of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . In Greek, the last 5 words of this quote are expressed in only one word, Theopneustos. Literally, it means, God-breathed.

This being true, it is very important that we pay close attention to every word. We cannot afford to read a passage and then just make a guess as to what is being said. A child in school may very hurriedly read a lesson and hope to get something of the gist of it so as to pass the exam. But one does not get the mind of God by skimming over what He has said. And the child may get some strange notions of the subject by using such a method of study but in God's Word, every jot and tittle must stand.

There are many who subscribe to the Scriptures and claim them to be holy and inspired, yet at the same time, they place something over and above them. It may be the traditions of their church, or even the church itself, some may even put human reasoning above the Scriptures.

The Jews put the Targums and Talmud above the Word of God and so made it of none effect by their traditions. Then too we have some sects and denominations who claim to have received further revelations from God which are over and above the Bible. They have another Bible of their own.

Many who profess themselves to be wise stand as judges over the Scriptures. They can tell God how He should have written His Book. And if they do not like The Book, then they have even gone so far as to declare the Author to be dead.

The Lord told the Jews to search the Scriptures. The noble Bereans truly searched the Scriptures. That is what we should be doing today. This means that we are to carefully inspect them, trace them out, to track out every word. We are to take words, subjects, ideas, and track them through all the Bible to see what they may mean according to God. Likewise, we are to check out what man writes about the Scriptures.

At Berea, the result of the search was that many of them believed. Faith still comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Too few search the Scriptures today, and so few believe what The Scriptures reveal. We apply this particularly to those who make a profession and belong to some organization that carries the name of Christ.

Thy Word is Truth (John 17:17). Once a man learns this great lesson he soon learns much more. He learns that he cannot by any searching out exhaust all the Word of God. Those who know the Author can testify that the words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times (Psalms 12:6). Every word of God is pure. They are not the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth (1 Cor. 2:13). The natural man receiveth, not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).

Man's wisdom is set forth in long-winded discourses with plenty of footnotes, but real wisdom is where the teacher is able to say, Thus saith the Lord. No other foot-notes are needed.

2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

PROFITABLE. They are worth looking into.

1. Doctrine. Doctrine is teaching. Much that we learn comes from teaching. That learning is good if it has been correctly taught. There can also be false doctrine, taught by liars and evil spirits. But the doctrine we find in The Book is good doctrine, the profitable kind.

2. Reproof. This is not comfortable but it is very profitable if we will but take it. The Bible reproves people of sin. That is why so many will not read it. It is a mirror in which we can see ourselves as we really are. It does not flatter.

3. Correction. We do not always like this either. We like to go our own way. But the Word is a corrective, turning us from our own ways and the crooked paths to the straight one. Our speech needs correction, our activities need guidance and correction, our worship and service need correction.

4. Instruction in righteousness. It seems that man's imagination is continually evil. It just comes naturally. When it comes to righteousness, or rather doing right, one needs instruction. The Word does just that. Things that the natural man might think to be right are not found right according to the standard of the Word. The first step in doing right is to learn to love. No step that is profitable can be made till this first one is made. Even the Ten Commandments for Israel demand love for God and for our fellow man.

THE GOAL. All the above leads up to something.

1. That the man of God may be perfect. Left to his own devices, man travels on a downward spiral. His progress has always been the opposite of evolution. The sons of Adam were highly civilized, but they soon went back and many lived in caves and used the crudest of tools and weapons. They killed and stole from one another. But the measure of the perfection of man is the One who was the express image of God, Jesus Christ. Civilization does not make a man perfect that can only be attained by the inner work of The Spirit as we study and believe God's Word.

2. Throughly furnished unto all good works. We are reminded in Ephesians 2:10 that the man who is saved is created unto good works. Not only do we have to find what these good works are, but we have to be trained to do them. We also have to have the tools with which to work. All these things are furnished by the Scriptures. There is no other way to attain this goal than by reading and study of the Scriptures. So what are we waiting for let's get busy!

John 5:39 when speaking of the Scriptures, our Lord said, They are they which testify of Me. And just where else can one find a testimony concerning Jesus Christ our Savior? We have given you just one reference but think of the many thru-out The Book which say the same.

Now it is very important that we take facts right from the Word, and not mere inference in any study we may make. We do not need to stray from the Scriptures or to change them to find the answer to our quest, Where is He to be found?

Apart from the Bible, there is no other source to which we can turn for light amid the darkness and nothing that can give life to the sinner, or shed abroad love in the 'heart and the peace that passeth understanding. Science is no help in this realm and education fails as a tool unless that education and science are from above (1 Timothy 6:20, Romans 1:22). God's Word alone is the one source of life, light, and peace and God manifest in the flesh was able to meet all the needs as He is the true and living way.

What is the difference between the Christian and the man of the world? The answer is very simple. The Christian believes what God has said in His Word, and the man of the world does not. So therein lies the difference between life and death. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:12).

We must know Christ and His relationship to those who believe today and we must ever remember that the written Word makes known the Living Word, Christ, Jesus our Lord these are woven together, they cannot be separated. The Scriptures do not reveal a creed, but a Person. When we have studied then we can say, I know Whom I have believed. See 2 Timothy 1:12.

As seen on https://believer.com/

What will my body be like after it is resurrected?

1 Corinthians 15:38
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

1 Corinthians 15:43-44
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power. They are natural human bodies now, but when they are raised, they will be spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, so also there are spiritual bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:51, 53
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Your resurrected body will be a physical body like you have now, but it may also have some supernatural characteristics. Most importantly, your new body won’t decay from the effects of sin. You will never be sick or in pain again, nor will your mind think sinful thoughts. You will be fully and finally perfect in God’s sight.
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
Teilhard de Chardin

What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to me?

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:42
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is the same way for the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die.

Matthew 28:5-6
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
Without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, there would be no Christianity. The Resurrection is central because it demonstrates that Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to pay for sin and assures us that we will also be resurrected. The power of God that brought Jesus back from the dead will also bring us back to life. Jesus’ death was not the end. His resurrection is the beginning of eternal life for all who believe in him. Do you believe?

2 Corinthians 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Because of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection—and our faith in him—we stand holy and blameless in God’s presence. We can come to him confidently. Jesus died for us and rose again with the promise to be with us.

1 Peter 1:21
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
The Lord is our source of hope because his promises are true. We lose hope when we stop believing that. The Resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope. Jesus promised that he would rise from the dead, and because he did, we can be assured that every other promise God makes us will also come true.

How can I have confidence that God will someday resurrect me to life forever in heaven?

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

1 Corinthians 15:12-14
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: [14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Eyewitness evidence for any historical event is the most reliable. Hundreds of eyewitnesses claimed to have seen Jesus following the Resurrection. The apostles were willing to risk martyrdom for preaching the truth about it, and millions upon millions of changed lives bear witnesses to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today. Because of the Resurrection, we know that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross accomplished God’s plan—our sins are forgiven and we will live forever with Jesus in heaven. Christianity, at its heart, is not just another moral or religious code, but resurrection and new life.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY MARCH 24TH 2026

TOPIC: BLESSINGS DON'T COME CHEAP

MEMORISE:
And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. - (Exodus 23:25)

BIBLE READING: GENESIS 22:1-18 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

MESSAGE:
Ephesians 1:3 tells us that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; however, walking in those blessings doesn't come cheap. God's blessings are invaluable; for instance, the blessing that He pronounced over Abraham in today's Bible reading is still in effect today. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and people from all cultures and nationalities partake in Abraham's blessing because blessings go root-deep. You must note, however, that Abraham's blessing didn't come cheap; he was willing to sacrifice his only son to God in complete obedience to His will. God's blessings are available, but as I always say, in God's kingdom, nothing goes for nothing.

When Isaac wanted to bless Esau in Genesis 27:1-4, he asked him to go hunting and prepare a special meal for him with his catch. He wanted Esau to do something special for him to provoke the kind of blessing that nobody can reverse. While Esau went hunting in the field for a deer, his mother and brother got busy, preparing what Isaac loved. Both sons had to work hard in one way or the other with the aim of receiving their father's blessing. When God called Abram and asked him to leave his father's house, He pronounced some blessings on him (Genesis 12:1-3). However, those blessings were little compared to the blessing in today's Bible reading, where God swore by Himself. This is the highest form of blessing that anybody can receive from God, and Abraham did something to provoke it. You can position yourself before God in such a way that will make Him go over and beyond to bless you and your seed.

Years ago, I was at an airport with two heavy bags, and two of my spiritual children approached me. The one who got to me first merely greeted me, while the second not only greeted me but also collected my bags. I greeted both of them and said, "God bless you" to the one who collected my bags. The other one who only greeted me asked why I didn't bless him too, and I asked him what he had done for me that would have made me bless him. If the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14 had produced fruit to relieve Jesus of His hunger, it would have received a blessing, not a curse.

Beloved, when you bear fruit for God by serving Him and pleasing Him in all you do, you will receive wonderful blessings that will surpass your imaginations from Him.

KEY POINT:
Serving God wholeheartedly and pleasing Him attracts His blessings

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 SAMUEL 8-12

HYMNAL: 30 WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

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.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 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 blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 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. [Refrain]

4 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. [Refrain]

The name of Jesus higher than other names

Where there is light, there is security. Where there is light, there is opportunity. And where there is light, there is life.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY MARCH 20TH 2026

TOPIC: THE ROOT CURSE

MEMORISE:
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. - (2 Kings 2:21)

BIBLE READING: 2 KINGS 5:20-27 (KJV)

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

MESSAGE:
In Mark 11:12-20, Jesus cursed a fig tree for not having fruit on it, and it dried up from its roots. I believe the detail that the tree dried up from its roots was added to let us know that curses attack roots; they always go root-deep.

Immediately after Jesus cursed the fig tree, the disciples could have looked behind them as they left the scene and discovered that its leaves were still green. I imagine that one of them could have said to himself, "Jesus missed this one because the leaves on the tree are still as green as ever." Little did they know that the curse was already taking effect from the tree's roots.

Beloved, be careful of curses, especially divine curses. If a man curses another man, it can be reversed by another man with a higher spiritual authority. However, when it is a divine curse, no one can reverse it, except God. There are several people who have been cursed but still look 'green'. For example, a fellow might break away from his or her local church in a malicious manner and still look fine on the outside; however, the fellow's roots might have been affected, and with time, the consequences will begin to manifest. If you remove a branch from a tree, it dies instantly; however, it is not immediately apparent. It is only after a while that it will start turning yellow before it eventually turns black. When it is yellow, people might think it is prosperous, only to discover later that it was actually dying.

In today's Bible reading, when Elisha pronounced a curse on Gehazi, he said that Naaman's leprosy would cleave to him and his seed forever. The curse went straight to the roots of his lineage such that any fellow who came from that lineage would carry the curse. In (2 Kings 2:19-22), the men of Jericho came to Elisha to tell him that their city looked beautiful, but they had severe problems. When they brought him the new cruse of salt he requested, he went straight to the source of their river so he could tackle the city's curse from its roots.

Child of God, are you experiencing the aftermath of a curse that you or someone in your lineage brought into the family? I speak to the roots of that curse now, and I decree that every inherited curse will cease to function in your life and family from this moment, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Lord, please remove any curse that might be operating in my family from its roots, in Jesus' name.

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES 20-21

HYMNAL: 27 WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!

3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 18TH 2026

TOPIC: REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR

MEMORISE:
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; - (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

BIBLE READING: MARK 11:12-20 (KJV)

12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

MESSAGE:
Today's Bible reading tells the story of how Jesus saw a fig tree from afar and approached it because He was hungry. On getting to the tree, He discovered that it had no fruit on it even though it had many leaves, and He cursed it. One lesson we can learn from this story is that God expects every living thing to be productive; He created everything for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11) and wants them to reveal His glory.

One detail that used to baffle me any time I read the passage in today's Bible reading is that the time for figs had not yet come (Mark 11:13). I used to think to myself, "If it wasn't the season for figs, why did Jesus expect the fig tree to have fruit?" I later realised that, where the issue of time is concerned, God's time is always the right time. For instance, if God wakes you up at 3am or 4am, it is wrong to tell Him that it is too early for you to wake up. No matter how early the Sovereign God wakes you up, it means your day has begun - His time is always the right time.

In today's memory verse, God instructs young people to remember Him while they are still in their youth. This means that the best time to serve God is when a person is young. It is best for people to surrender their hearts and lives to God in the morning of their years because those who seek God early will always find Him (Proverbs 8:17). If you are a young person and you are reading this, Jesus wants your heart now; He wants you to bear fruits for His kingdom now that you're still young. He wants you to be fervent in spirit, serving Him (Romans 12:11). Don't squander your youth on the altar of sin or waste it by pursuing unimportant things; seek God early. Do not be like the fig tree, which had nothing to offer Jesus when He came seeking fruit from it. God has commanded us to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28); however, to be fruitful, you must cultivate a vibrant relationship with Him because you can do nothing without Him (John 15:4).

Beloved, I plead with you to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Even if you are no longer a youth, dedicate the rest of your life to serving Him, and He will beautify your life with His glory.

KEY POINT:
Remember your Creator now.

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:JUDGES 14-16

HYMNAL: 7 - I AM THINE O LORD

1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
and it told Thy love to me;
but I long to rise in the arms of faith,
and be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
to the cross where Thou hast died;
draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
to Thy precious, bleeding side.

2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
by the pow'r of grace divine;
let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
and my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain]

3 O, the pure delight of a single hour
that before Thy throne I spend,
when I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain]

4 There are depths of love that I cannot know
till I cross the narrow sea;
there are heights of joy that I may not reach
till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY MARCH 14TH 2026

TOPIC: LET HIM HAVE IT ALL

MEMORISE:
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. - (Jeremiah 10:23)

BIBLE READING: JOHN 6:5-13 (KJV)

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

MESSAGE:
Today's Bible reading tells us about a boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. He must have been planning to eat it, but when he learnt that Jesus had a need for it, he surrendered it willingly. At the end of the day, 12 baskets of food remained. I once asked my children about their thoughts concerning what might have happened to the 12 baskets, and one of them said that since there were 12 apostles, each apostle must have taken a basket. I believe, however, that the 12 baskets were carried to the boy's house. The Bible tells us that everything returns to its source - this is why all waters return to the sea (Ecclesiastes 1:7). It is the one who sows who will reap. Because the boy chose to trust God with what he had, God revealed Himself as the More-Than-Sufficient One. When you commit your ways to the Lord and surrender all you have to Him, He will reveal Himself to you in ways that are beyond your wildest imagination.

In (1 Kings 17:8-16), the widow of Zarephath had only one meal left for her and her son to eat. She surrendered it to Elijah, and she never lacked throughout the famine. Likewise, the Bible says that God performed special miracles through Apostle Paul (Acts 19:11). He surrendered everything God gave him back to the Lord, and God honoured his absolute surrender by making him one of the greatest apostles (2 Corinthians 12:11-12). I want to encourage you not to struggle with God over your life. Surrender to Him completely, and I assure you that your testimony will be that it is a good thing to trust in the Lord.

Surrendering to God begins with giving your heart to Him completely. God will either be Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all. He always comes to take charge and take over, and those who are willing to let Him be God experience His full support, protection, and help. They also enjoy unprecedented and wholesome victories in their lives.

Beloved, let God have it all. Today's memory verse tells us that it is not in man to direct his steps. Since you are limited, why not hand everything over to the Unlimited God who can bring out the best from your life? He is faithful and able to keep everything that is committed into His care.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I give you the full liberty to take charge of my life and affairs, in Jesus' name.

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES 4-5

HYMNAL: 23 ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER

1 All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

2 All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine. [Refrain]

3 All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me. [Refrain]