DATE: SATURDAY 24TH DECEMBER 2016
THEME: ONCE I WAS BLIND
Memorise:
He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25
Read: John 9:1-7
9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
9:7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
MESSAGE
There is a category of people that God is counting on to spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. We can see how powerful the testimony of a witness could be in our Bible reading today. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus declared all followers of Jesus as the light of the world and He went further in Matthew 5:16 to say:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
We are therefore called to be witnesses to the Power of God in our lives, sharing the testimony of His saving Power, Goodness, Mercy, Faithfulness, Love, Blessing, and the Miracles with the people of the world. 1 John 1:5 says:
"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Many perpetually live in darkness without the hope of deliverance; many are in bondage to sin, sickness, poverty, and lustful desires. God is counting on you to share the testimony of your salvation, healing, deliverance, and victory over demonic powers with somebody today. As you begin to share your experience from today, God will turn you to a mighty beam of light that will shine into the kingdom of darkness to liberate souls that are in bondage in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
Testifying to the Glory of God is not only beneficial to others; it also provides an opportunity to destroy the stronghold of the devil in your life. Revelation 12:11 says:
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony."
One sure way of repelling those who want to drag you into sin is by confronting them with the light of the Gospel. Also, when light shines in a dark environment, all secret activities will be exposed. Do you know that it is possible for you to know the secret thoughts and plans of your enemies before their implementation? To do this, let the light of God's Word shine in your heart and be full of the Holy Spirit. There is hardly anything that takes place on earth without God first revealing it to one of His confidants (Psalms 25:14).
In addition, when light comes, it propels you into action. Not many people want to perform brain tasking assignments when it is dark. If you allow the light of Jesus to shine in your heart, you will be supernaturally propelled to pick up your lost destiny and fulfill it. So, arise and shine, let your light shine bright in the dark places of the earth, share your testimony, let the whole world see what the Lord has done for you.
Prayer Point:
Father, please give me a voice; let the whole world hear my testimony very soon.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 22:17-24:16
Psalms 133-134
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR KING
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:
3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:
4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:
5. Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR PASSAGES
Psalm: 133. 1. 【A song of ascents. Of David.】
How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! 2. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Psalm: 134. 1. 【A song of ascents.】
Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3. May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.
Leviticus: 22. 17. The Lord said to Moses, 18. "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: 'If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, 19. you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. 20. Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. 21. When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable. 22. Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. 23. You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. 24. You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut. You must not do this in your own land, 25. and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.'" 26. The Lord said to Moses, 27. "When a calf, a lamb or a goat is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the Lord. 28. Do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day. 29. "When you sacrifice a thank offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 30. It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it till morning. I am the Lord. 31. "Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord. 32. Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who made you holy 33. and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.
Leviticus: 23. 1. The Lord said to Moses, 2. "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. 3. 【The Sabbath】
"'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord. 4. 【The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread】
"'These are the Lord's appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: 5. The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6. On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 7. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8. For seven days present a food offering to the Lord. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.'" 9. 【Offering the Firstfruits】
The Lord said to Moses, 10. "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 11. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12. On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, 13. together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. 14. You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 15. 【The Festival of Weeks】
"'From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 17. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. 18. Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 19. Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20. The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. 21. On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 22. "'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.'" 23. 【The Festival of Trumpets】
The Lord said to Moses, 24. "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.'" 26. 【The Day of Atonement】
The Lord said to Moses, 27. "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. 28. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. 29. Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. 30. I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. 31. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32. It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath." 33. 【The Festival of Tabernacles】
The Lord said to Moses, 34. "Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work. 37. ("'These are the Lord's appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38. These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.) 39. "'So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43. so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'" 44. So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the Lord.
Leviticus: 24. 1. The Lord said to Moses, 2. "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. 3. Outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 4. The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord must be tended continually. 5. "Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. 6. Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7. By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. 8. This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord." 10. Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) 12. They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them. 13. Then the Lord said to Moses: 14. "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15. Say to the Israelites: 'Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; 16. anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.
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