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TEXT: Deuteronomy 20:10-18(NKJV)

10. ” When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.
11. “And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people [who are] found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you.
12. “Now if [the city] will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.
13. “And when the LORD your God delivers it into your hands, you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword.
14. “But the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall plunder for yourself; and you shall eat the enemies’ plunder which the LORD your God gives you.
15. “Thus you shall do to all the cities [which are] very far from you, which [are] not of the cities of these nations.
16. “But of the cities of these peoples which the LORD your God gives you [as] an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive,
17. “but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the LORD your God has commanded you,
18. “lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God.

STUDY:

In the battle for freedom, supremacy and dominion by the Israelites, there were instructions from the priests, military officers and God Himself. We meditated on the instruction of the military officers yesterday. In today’s Scripture, God gave out His instructions for dealing with enemy cities. In God’s instructions, an important principle was introduced into the war laws of Israel regarding the cities they besieged (vv. 10-12), and the people they fought against (vv. 16-18). In particular were the cities they must utterly destroy. One may ask how a merciful and just God could order the destruction of entire cities. He did this for 3 reasons: (i) God has given the enemy lands to the Israelites as an inheritance (ii) The abominations of those cities are sufficiently indicated in Leviticus 18:24-28 and Leviticus 20:23 (ii) To protect His people from idol worship which was certain to bring ruin to Israel.

While God wants us to extend the peace of Christ to our enemies and take the gospel to sinners for repentance, He is also instructing us to avoid completely any person that strongly opposes the good news or things that can easily take us away or contend with our inheritance. Hebrew 12:1 says”…let us lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnare us….” Let us completely flee and destroy every sin that can deprive us of the heavenly kingdom that God has prepared for us.

PRAYER:
Father Lord, let everything that can take me away from Your presence be destroyed in and around me in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!

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TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 20:1-9(NKJV)

1. “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots [and] people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God [is] with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
2. “So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people.
3. “And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them;
4. ‘for the LORD your God [is] He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’
5. “Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: ‘What man [is there] who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.
6. ‘Also what man [is there] who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it.
7. ‘And what man [is there] who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.’
8. “The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘What man [is there who is] fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’
9. “And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

STUDY:

Attaining freedom is to fight for it. Fighting battles however, needs full concentration and dedication all distractions must be dealt with or avoided. So, in the Israeli army, there are laws of exemption from military service to avoid casualties. Some of these laws are listed in verses 5 to 8. These laws and warnings are necessary so that no man would be thinking of his newly acquired possessions in the battle and lose his life. In addition, the loss of a soldier in a battle field does not only affect the immediate family but also reduces the capacity of the nation. So, all necessary measures must be taken to guard against loss.
The Christian race is a battle for the salvation of our souls and eternity we are to lay aside all distractions! The writer of Hebrew makes this clear in chapter 12:1. There are many distractions and temptations in the Christian race worldly pleasures, possessions, unnecessary doctrinal controversies and divisions. All these have taken the position of Christ away from most Christians today, making them lose their focus concerning eternity, on daily basis. We should therefore reposition our faith and put off all distractions and temptations.

PRAYER:
Father, give me the Spirit of discernment to identify distractions and pitfalls in my Christian race in Jesus Name.
Amen!

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TEXT: Mathew 18:1-16(NKJV)

1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2. Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3. and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
6. ” But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7. “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8. “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
9. “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
10. ” Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
11. “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
13. “And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that [sheep] than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14. “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15. ” Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
16. “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

STUDY:

The disciples came to Jesus with a fundamental question of who is the greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus made it clear that it is only those who possess childlike characters that will inherit the kingdom of God. He explained this to his disciples using the most appropriate example of a child’s attitude towards everything around him. By implication, Jesus is saying that whoever wants to inherit the Kingdom of God must emulate a childlike humility and servant-like heart.
Note the comments of Jesus in verses 4 and 5. Christ establishes the spirit and style by which our authority as Christians should be exercised (Matthew 11:14). If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must be humble. You must willingly submit to God and His will. God honours the humble and He exalts them in due time (I Peter 5:6). Submit yourself to his will, be humble. and you shall be great in His kingdom.

PRAYER: Lord clothe me with the garment of humility, so I may exhibit the virtues of Your kingdom in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

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TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:10-23(NKJV)

10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14. Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16. For even in Thessalonica you sent [aid] once and again for my necessities.
17. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
18. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things [sent] from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
19. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20. Now to our God and Father [be] glory forever and ever. Amen.
21. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
22. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

STUDY:

The Philippians had earlier made several attempts to reach out to Paul in his imprisonment but they were unable. They eventually had the opportunity to fulfill their heart desire as they extended their hands of love to this man of God through their gifts. Paul was a man of God known and respected for his spirit of contentment and commitment to the work of the Master. Paul could not hide his joy for the great relief this gift brought to him.
The task of expanding the kingdom through the propagation of the gospel is highly demanding; it calls for commitment, both spiritually and materially. When you minister to the need of the servant of God or make donations towards a particular need or project in your local assembly, it is an investment into God’s Kingdom. The Spirit of God says through Paul that those who minister to us spiritually ought to be ministered to materially. Note that the more you give to God’s work and minister to the need of His servants, the more He blesses you and ministers to your needs.

PRAYER:
Lord God of heaven and the earth, by the authority of Your word, I command the heavenly blessings upon my life for the purpose of advancing Your kingdom here on earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:1-9(NKJV)

1. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names [are] in the Book of Life.
4. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord [is] at hand.
6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7. and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
9. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

STUDY:

At the close of his letter to the Philippians, Paul addressed a crucial issue relating to the unity and sweet fellowship in the body of Christ just as Jesus Christ at the end of His earthly ministry prayed for unity among His disciples (John 17). Paul knew about the dispute between the two women, Euodias and Syntyche, who were among his companions. He knew their usefulness in the furtherance of the gospel and therefore entreated the disciple whom he called true yokefellow and a fellow labourer, to ensure that these two women agreed in the Lord.
God in His love has established His Church through His Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile the rebellious world to Himself. As Christians, we are to bring the world into the knowledge of the love of God which is offered in Christ Jesus. If the Church that was purchased with the blood of Jesus through the love of God and commissioned to propagate the message of love is in disunity, it becomes difficult for her to fulfill her God-given mission. As a yokefellow with Christ Jesus, you must not be a cause of disunity in the body of Christ. Your life must be one that preaches the message of love of Christ both in the Church and most importantly, to those Who are yet to come to the knowledge of His saving grace. Jesus says, blessed are the peacemakers. for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt, 5:9). Pray for God’s enabling grace to be used as peacemaker where there is conflict in His Church, so that we can work together and fulfill the great commission.

PRAYER:
Lord God of love, I pray that my life will henceforth reflect Your love, both in the Church and to the people around me in Jesus name. Amen.

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TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:17-21(NKJV)

17. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19. whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.
20. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21. who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

STUDY:

With much agony and tears, Apostle Paul made known his displeasure with those whom he described as enemies of the cross. These people were among the Church but they made themselves thorns in the body of Christ. There were two sets of people involved here, the first were the Christian Jews who claimed to be religious and forced people to keep their law (E.g., circumcision). The second were the false teachers who dedicated themselves to false teachings, misleading the believers. They taught people that they could do whatever they liked with their bodies, including sexual immorality and all sorts of abominable things. They taught that since we are not going to meet the Lord at His Second Coming with our mortal bodies, we are free to live as we wish.

Beloved in the Lord, we still have wolves in the midst of the sheep today, living a carefree lifestyle and upholding a satanic doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” They take glory in shameful things, their god is their belly, and their end is destruction. Be wise to live a distinguished life in Christ, knowing that those who allow themselves to follow the natural desires of their minds and flesh are not followers of Christ, but enemies of the cross and their end is destruction.

PRAYER:
Lord I beseech You to give me the discerning spirit to always be conscious of who and what I should accommodate as I journey with You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:12-16(NKJV)

12. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
16. Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

STUDY:

Our text today unfolds what a new life in Christ Jesus implies as exemplified in the life and Ministry of Paul the Apostle. A Christian life should be progressive and not static, moving forward to obtain the prize. Paul revealed the secret of what kept him moving forward in his walk with the Lord. He said, “Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting hat lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead ” (v. 12)
Paul put everything behind him and forged ahead in his walk with the Lord. As a mature Christian, you must have the attitude of always desiring to press forward. Paul knew what could prevent him from winning the prize; he put them behind and considered all the things in which he could boast as worthless. Search your life today to see if there is anything you still hold on to, and which is drawing you back in your walk with the Lord. Hebrews12:1-2 says, “…let us also ay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely;, and run with perseverance the race that is set before us….” f you must have a successful walk with the Lord and end it at His bosom, you must put behind you every weight that is drawing you back from making progress in the Lord. Like Paul, you need to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, give me the grace to always press forward in my walk with You until I obtain the crown of glory which You have secured for me.

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TEXT: LUKE 1:67-79(NKJV)

67. Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68. “Blessed [is] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,
69. And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,
70. As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who [have been] since the world began,
71. That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,
72. To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant,
73. The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74. To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,
75. In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76. “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77. To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,
78. Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
79. To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

STUDY:

Our passage today is an account of Zechariah’s Prophecy after the birth of his son, John the Baptist. As the Lord removed his dumbness, his first words were songs of praise to God who had raised a horn of Salvation for His people. He revealed that John the Baptist had been born to fulfill the mandate of preparing the way for the Lord Jesus through a message of repentance, and to bring people who sit in darkness to the light of the knowledge of the Saviour. Zechariah revealed that a new age would dawn and John had been raised to correct the false ideas about the Messiah among the people.
Today we celebrate the Anniversary of the Church Missionary Society who were instrumental to the liberation of Africa from the path of destruction to the saving grace offered through the blood of Jesus. Through their increasing and burning desire to spread the gospel to where it had not been heard, the CMS disregarded every obstacle and exploited the land for the Lord. God has raised you to bear His horn of Salvation which is Jesus so that those in darkness will come to the marvelous light of God’s salvation. Like John the Baptist, God has graciously saved and raised you to proclaim this good news to the world around you.

PRAYER:
Eternal Father, empower me by Your words and may my life become a channel to draw more souls to Your kingdom in Jesus name. Amen.

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TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:7-11(NKJV)

7. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11. if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

STUDY:

In our reading today, Apostle Paul makes it clear that the Christian life is not a ceremony or an outward display of religiosity, but a new life in Christ through an inward spiritual change. Paul was born and circumcised a Jew, trained to be zealous in law, and a Pharisee but his encounter with Jesus did not only make him put aside religious ceremonies and his status, but also gave him the strength and focus of heaven. He said, *But whatever gain I had, l counted as loss for he sake of Christ” – he considered all as loss because of a surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus. He warned the
Philippians to beware of the Judaisers who appeared to be religious. He noted that true believers are not those who carry out a ceremony put a mark on their bodies, but those who have received the new life in Christ through an inward spiritual change.
The Bible says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (II Cor. 5:17). Has everything become new in your life since you encountered Jesus? Just as Paul was not overcome by the old man but constantly gained victory over the flesh, so must your life reflect the beauty of the risen Lord on a daily basis! Beloved, you have nothing to lose for choosing to live the life of Christ. Your encounter with Jesus should give you a new life, living only to the praise and glory of Christ.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I surrender my life to You today, help me to live my life in Your praise and glory in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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TEXT: John 17:11-19(NKJV)

11. “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are.]
12. “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13. “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
14. “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16. “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18. “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19. “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

STUDY:

We live in a world where insecurity is a great challenge. In our passage today, Jesus Christ interceded for His disciples that God The Father would keep them from evil. He prayed that they would remain faithful and united, that they may not be defeated by the evil that is in the world.
Beloved, as we know, the time of the appearance of the Son of Man is nearer now than when we first believed. Satan and his cohorts are also aware and are putting more effort into their mission of attacking believers. Revelation 12:12 says, “Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” The aggressive Satan has become more violent and fierce in his attack as the days roll. Let’s note the words of Jesus in verse 15: I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. As the redeemed of the Lord, remember that Jesus Christ did not pray that His Father should take you away from this wicked world but He repeatedly interceded that the Father would keep and protect you from evil. Therefore, be courageous and strong in the Lord, knowing that the assurance of your security is guaranteed in Christ Jesus… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (11 Timothy 1:12).

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You for keeping watch over me keep me firm in the assurance of Your protection. Amen.