Forward By Faith

THE 2018 Edition ICOC NIGERIA POWER SERIES A Journey Through

Hebrews 11

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Forward By Faith Forward By Faith
A Journey Through THE 2018 Edition ICOC NIGERIA POWER SERIES THE 2018 Edition ICOC NIGERIA POWER SERIES A Journey Through
Hebrews 11 Hebrews 11

Forward By Faith
A Journey through Hebrews 11

40 Days Devotional Booklet © 2018 ICOC NIgeria Plot 1 Otunba Jobifele Way
Central Business District, Alausa. Ikeja, Lagos.
P.O. Box 52088, Falomo,Ikoyi, Lagos.

[email protected]

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be duplicated,copied,translate,

reproduced or stored mechanically or electronically,without specific,written
permission of the International Church of CHRIST, Nigeria.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy
Bible, New International Version.

Copyright ©1973,1978,1984 by the International Bible Society. Use by

permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Printed in the Federal republic of Nigeria.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Project Coordinators: Chris & Rolayo Ogbonnaya Section 1 Section 3

Cover Design: Lanre Agbesanwa
Administration: Sam Onuoha & ICOC Lagos Church Office The assurance of what is not seen Aging Faithfully
Sub-editors: Rolayo Ogbonnaya, Wala Aderibigbe, Ayo Receiving GODs commendation The Faithful visionary
Da Silva The universe was formed at GODs command Faith does not fear
Chief Editor: Michael Okechukwu Emeka A better offering Faith is my identity
Graphics Layout/Illustrations: Lanre Agbesanwa Living to please GOD Faith and priorities
Support and Logistics: Blue Seal Ltd, ICOC Lagos Office The importance of Faith Looking ahead
The mix of Faith and action Faith perseveres
Daily Devotional Contributors: Faith and Obedience Faith obedience and salvation
1.Dayo Andre 20. Israel Ereola A stranger in a foreign country Faith is the victory
2. Ernest Kuto 21. Chris Ogbonnaya The City of GOD Faith and the fall of Jericho
3. Wale Oni 22. Gbenga Ayinla
4. Rachel Nsefik Eyo 23. Pauline Odusote Section 2 Section 4
5. Imagbe Igbinoba 24. Funmi Adesanya
6. Rolayo Ogbonnaya 25. Ntia Usukuma Faith and the Impossible Exonerated by Faith
7. Okechukwu Emeka 26. Rotimi Awaye The power in one mans faith We are not alone
8. Gbenga Atolagbe 27. Sam Onuoha Faith and patience Faith makes the impossible real 1
9. Ndu Eke 28. Nathaniel Afamoh Looking forward to a city of our own Faith makes the impossible real 2
10. Kip Charles Emeka. 29. Njideka Eke Faith: Burn your ships A better resurrection
11. Doyle Edeni 30. Bode Adefolu GOD is proud of the faithful Faith Humiliation and pain
12. Wasiu Ajao 31. Omo iyamu Not too much to let go A high price to pay
13. Titi George 32. Adejo Odekina There will be a test Worthy of a better place
14. Francis Okogwu 33. Frank Onuorah Absolute trust The promise
15. Adeola Adesanya 34. Frank Okodugha Absolute trust GOD has a better plan
16. Uwamai Igein 35. Seni Olorunfemi
17. Ayo Dasilva 36. John Cawray
18. Fidelis Chinedu 37. Stella Emeka
19. Sedoo Gemade 38. Tutu Sangonuga

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Hebrews 11 Hebrews 11

PREFACE

Five years ago the first edition of the “Power Series” rolled off the Press. From
our first Theme, “Back to Life”, it became evident that many of our Church
members desire a periodic quiet time guide to help channel their thoughts as
they step into a new year. Our first edition, which was meant to be a one-off
exercise, was designed to encourage, inspire and challenge members of our
local congregation to faith as we all step into the New Year. That first edition
was inspired by similar work by Jimmy Allen.

The reception it received was so overwhelming that the Lagos Church staff
decided to produce a sequel the following year. “The Most Excellent Way”,
“Worthy of His Calling”, and “A Call to Build” kept us busy for the succeeding
three years. Special PDF web editions of these publications were equally
posted online for free download.

The theme of 7th Edition is “Forward by Faith”.

Hebrews 10:36-39 NIV

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will
receive what he has promised. [37] For, “In just a little while, he who is coming
will come and will not delay.” [38] And, “But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” [39] But we do not belong
to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and
are saved. ‘‘ Five years ago the first edition of the “Power Series”
This is the bedrock of the admonition that led to all the encouragement in rolled off the Press. From our first Theme, “Back to Life”,
Hebrews 11. May we never shrink back rather may our faith power us forward. it became evident that many of our Church members
We aknowledge and thank all the brothers and sisters who contributed directly
desire a periodic quiet time guide to help channel their
and indirectly to the success of this major result of prayer, sacrifice and effort. thoughts as they step into a new year....’’
May this devotional inspire you to exponentially multiply your heart and
commitment to the major implications of the LORD’s investments to power
us forward!

Michael Okechukwu Emeka

Chief Editor
© 2018 Power Series Committee

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Section 1

Be on your guard; stand firm in the

faith; be courageous; be strong.
Do everything in love
1st Corinthians 16: 13-14

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DAY 1 THE ASSURANCE OF WHAT IS NOT SEEN. RECEIVING GOD’s COMMENDATION DAY 2

Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 11:2

Faith is not something we have to do to cause God to bless us. “I’ll believe it when I see it!” I’ve said that many times.
In Hebrews 11 we find this prevalent perspective. Faith is presented not as an In a society that has fallen short of our hopes and expectations, it is easy to
effort but as an “assurance about what we do not see.” Through “eyes of faith” “tune out” and to become cynical. It seems the more we are promised that
we can see something that was already there, whether we’d noticed it or not. “things will change”, the less they actually do. Our faith – my faith – has
Faith is a guarantee that what we do not see is there! taken a hit. We cannot please God when our hearts are dulled by cynicism.
Without realizing it, this state of heart affects us spiritually.The ancients were
By faith we are guaranteed that even though we can not see GOD he is there. commended for being certain of what they could NOT see. The Message
To Illustrate: We are in the harmattan season, there’s a lot of dust in the air, version: reads thus, “The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set
visibility is very bad. them above the crowd.”

An aircraft carrying 110 passengers flying in from Port Harcourt in this season In John 20:29, Jesus in addressing Thomas, convicts us also when he said,
is an epitome of faith, how? you may ask? The passengers are all seated “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have
separated and secluded from the pilots,they exercise a blind faith in the not seen and yet have believed.” (Emphasis mine)
capabilities of the pilots to bring in the the huge aircraft safely to land. The
pilots themselves can hardly see, the aerial visibility is so bad because of all the Read carefully the account in Matthew 15:21-28
dust hanging in the air, so they have to do an instrument landing and trust the By all accounts, this woman was very much aware that she was not a Jew and
planes instruments as well as the radar to guide them into a safe landing. 99% therefore, not, one of Jesus’ people. In fact, her ancestors had been enemies of
of the time it works out that way in a purely human situation. the Jews. Both Matthew and Mark in their accounts of this encounter, take the
time to point out her Canaanite heritage. Jesus himself spoke directly to her
With faith, the situation is similar: we have an assurance of God’s trustworthiness. ancestry, by referring to her people as ‘the dogs’...
There are days when God’s work can be clearly seen in our lives. But other days There were several things this woman could ‘not see’
may not be like that at all. A fog of doubt or the haze of shame of sin may creep She did not see a warm welcome and acceptance by Jesus and his disciples.
in, and suddenly all the clear spiritual realities we have enjoyed can seemingly She did not see a history of friendship between her people and Jesus’ people.
vanish. Having faith is often like squinting into the harmattan to see. We do
this because we can not see, that does not mean the realities are not there, In order to receive God’s commendation, we must, like this woman, choose
a mountain may become invisible because of the harmattan,but it would wisely in the following ways;
be very dangerous to think the mountain is not there. The same argument
applies to the trustworthiness of God. Choose to believe what you’ve heard.
This woman had heard about Jesus’ healing power. She believed what she had
As we chart our way through 2018 lets be assured of what is not seen, our GOD heard about Jesus’ power to rescue her daughter from demon possession.
has seen all things and can be trusted to bring us into a safe landing and safe We too have heard of the power of Jesus to heal, rescue and restore.
haven - Romans 8:24-25, 1Corinthians 13:3, 2Corinthians 4:8 &5:7. Do you believe what you have read in the scriptures?

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Allow genuine faith to revive your prayers and your actions. Q: Have you removed Christ’s authority from discipleship – replaced same
with opinions and ideas?
Impress Jesus by not giving up. Q: Who are you following? Who is your Master/Lord?
This woman could have felt insulted by the disciple’s attitude and Jesus’ words. Q: Are you living a life of worship of the Most High?
Similarly, do not let unmet expectations and unanswered prayers harden your Q: Can you discern good from evil in your daily situations
heart.
Recognize Jesus compassion FOR YOU. By faith (that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power,
ACTION: Write down the ways you’ve ‘given up’ in your faith. Decide to take a wisdom and goodness of God), we as Christians believe the creation story and
renewed step of faith today. God’s ultimate authority over His creation.

In thinking about the fact that God created the world out of nothing, some
DAY 3 THE UNIVERSE WAS FORMED AT GOD’S COMMAND biblical phrases/facts that strengthen my conviction concerning the issue of
faith are discussed below.

For you created all things and by your will they were created and have their
Hebrews 11:3
being. He determines our spaces in life. His desire is such that we will seek,
Genesis 1:1-2, Psalm 33:6
find, obey and serve Him. Rev 4:11, Acts 17:24-26
The creation story is quite precise and credible. God created the world
out of nothing (void and formlessness). God didn’t need man’s input or
The God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though
approval in this process, He just did it. God’s creation effort is beyond human
they were. God is in the business of raising the dead. He is the God of raising
understanding.
dry bones. This day, what areas of your life are dry, dying or dead? In faith take
it to Him, the God of creation will raise and restore such Rom 4:17, Eze 37:3
God created all things. Everything in existence has its being in God’s plan. He is
worthy to be praised; He is our Lord and God, He is, daily, to receive glory and
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the
honour and power (Rev 4:11).
things that are not – to nullify the things that are. He told Prophet Samuel
that man looks at outward appearance, but He works with our inside. The
The essence of our being is to know Him, make Him known while worshipping
hindrances include pride, arrogance, haughtiness, conceit, self righteousness.
Him in spirit and in truth.
Come lowly hearted and be vulnerable before Him. 1Cor 12:5-28
2Peter 3:5
God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith
Men have tried ever since to use their limited minds to figure out this awesome
and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him, James 2:5 is
feat. They have come up with deliberate policies/tendencies to discard,
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his
discredit or make people forget the creation story (such as the ‘big bang”,
power that is at work within us. Immeasurably (very great in size or amount:
removing God from public spaces etc.). In a film titled “Time Changers”, which
impossible to measure); boundless, endless, fathomless. What is the highest
I recently watched, one of the lead characters alluded that “The authority and
imagination I/you can have? My/your biggest request from God is too finite.
power of Christ is being removed from his word – the Bible – and is being
Let’s put our personal growth/needs, ministry needs, disciples’ needs/growth,
replaced by religion that has no relationship whatsoever with the God of the
societal peace and progress before Him. The God of creation is all able and
universe” (paraphrase).
infinite. Eph 3:20

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DAY 4 A BETTER OFFERING LIVING TO PLEASE GOD DAY 5

Hebrew 11:4 Hebrews 11:5

An Offering is a gift, donation, present or contribution devoted to God. It could Few weeks ago, and at two different bible talks, I started off the discussions
be tangible like our weekly offering and special contribution. It could also be with the opening question: ‘What do people fear the most?’ From what people
intangible like our worship of God, our prayers, our acts of service to God etc. shared three things ranked the most and as follows; in number three is failure,
Everyone loves receiving gifts especially from loved ones, and like every loving in number two is poverty and in number one is DEATH.
father, God also loves receiving gifts from us his beloved children. So what
made God to accept Abel’s offering and yet reject Cain’s offering? Interestingly, we discussed further that man has been able to and can ‘find-a-
way-round’ failure and poverty, but not death. Am sure if all scientists in the
Genesis 4: 6-7 made it clear to us that something was not right with Cain’s whole world were to be asked what would the greatest feat to achieve in this
giving, and this may have to do with the gift itself, but more than that I believe life be for them, it will be ‘breakthrough’ over death. Unarguably, it is the ‘Ace’
it has to do with the heart behind the giving because God searches the heart God has over mankind
and is more concerned with the motives behind our action, more than the
action itself. This is however in contrast with our world today (including Man wish to escape death and live forever, but has not been able to do
religious bodies), where the end justifies the means. What you give in monetary anything about it and can never, no matter the millions of dollars pump into
value and in your acts of service is what counts; the more you’re able to give its research.
the better recognition you get. The source of the money, the reason for the
giving or the intention behind the giving, or the life of the person giving is Perhaps, such as been the puzzle to this mystery about death and the quest to
considered irrelevant. Proverbs 15:8 says that the Lord detests the sacrifice of have a victory over it since the time of the ancients that led to one asking as
the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. recorded in the Scriptures:

Therefore let us examine ourselves; how is your giving to God today (both Psalm 89:48
financially and otherwise)? What is the source of your income and what is the Who can live and never die? How can we humans keep ourselves from the
heart (motive) behind your acts of giving and service to God? Do you give grave? –GNT
out of gratitude, love and respect for God, or is it out of compulsion, pride This sounds almost rhetorical and seems to beg for answer that confounds
(show-off ), or just to fulfil all righteousness (obligation). Note that God is more and eludes man for ages. The good news is there is an answer to who can live,
concerned about our heart than our gifts, because if the heart is right the gift never dies and escape the grave. The passage below without mistake reveal
will be right and acceptable, but if the heart is wrong, so will the gift. so:
What do you need to do today to give a better offering that is acceptable
to God? What do you need to repent of, for God to once again accept your 1 John 3:21-24
offerings as a sweet smelling fragrance? Note that if Cain had repented, his The secret to life now and forever is being in Christ and pleasing God daily
offering would have been accepted (Genesis. 4:6-7). through obedience to his words. It is not by any magic or scientific discoveries.
Jesus has risen from death and has so overcome death. Therefore, those that
Today’s action plan: Read Titus 1:16 and do a self-evaluation. chooses to please God by their ways of life gets to have through the Spirit the

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resurrected Jesus in them and cause them too to live forever. Indeed, they outspoken and daring Peter was ready to do the unimaginable and walk on
have come to have the ‘last one’ on death (or in another way ‘are cheating water to be sure that it was Jesus. However, he got distracted by the wind and
death’). became so afraid that he began to sink.

Genesis 5:21-24 & Ephesians 5:8-10 Some of us have had or are presently going through a “Peter-Moment”. After
Enoch’s walk with God reveals a relationship and way of life that pleases baptism, our faith in God is unshakeable and we realize the importance of
God. His desires, decisions and drives in life must have be determined by the having faith in God in our lives. However, when the “winds” of life come our
question ‘Does this please God?’ Just as we too have been admonished by Paul way, we tend to become afraid and start sinking fast because our faith has
in his letter to the Ephesians to do today. been replaced with fear and we allow doubt fill our minds.

Are you still finding out what pleases God concerning your marriage and Our faith in God is very vital to our walk with God. When we continuously put
parenting? How about God’s money in your custody? Are you spending it to our faith in God, knowing that he has only the best in store for us, we would
please God or self? Your involvement in mission and ministry of God and his have no reason to live in fear or doubt. We would place our confidence in Him
church, are they pleasing in God’s eyes? What you watch on TV or phones, knowing that he exists and will never fail us.
does it please God? The type of characters you associate with, are they the
types whose ways of life pleases God? Are you feeding your faith in God by having in depth and consistent DQTs-Daily
Quiet Times which will have an everlasting impact in your neighbourhood,
It was the faith that Enoch has in God that keeps him living to please God and office, school, state, Nigeria and the rest of the world? Are you allowing your
causes him not to die. The same faith should keep us living to please God also faith be replaced by fear and doubt? Are you allowing the “winds” of life to
in every area of our lives, and the reward will be immortality. discourage and distract you from the purpose God has called you to live?
Further reading: Colossians 1:9-14, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, 1 Practical.
- Write down certain ways you can build and feed your faith in God today.
- Study out biblical personalities who had great faith in God and make a
DAY 6 THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH decision to emulate them.
Ref: Jeremiah 29:13-14, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 105:3-4, Proverbs 8:17

Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 14:22-33

Faith is defined as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”
As disciples, we have been called to put our complete trust and confidence THE MIX OF FAITH AND ACTION DAY 7
in God. In these passages, we see the importance of faith in our lives. The first
passage helps us to understand that without faith it is impossible to walk with
or please God. Looking at this scripture closely, the word “impossible” stands Hebrews 11:7
out to me. The bible is directly telling us here that it is unfeasible, impracticable I have had to give up immoral relationships while studying the Bible to
and hopeless to please God without having faith. become a Christian and along the line, God has blessed me with a wife and
a family of my own. I have had to give up some jobs and other commitments
In the second passage, we see a practical example of the importance of faith. during my working career that did not allow me the time to serve God the way
While other disciples cried out in fear thinking that Jesus was a ghost, the ever I wanted and God replaced such Jobs and commitments with better and more

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rewarding ones thereafter.

I have given and sacrificed way beyond my ability in the past and God provided FAITH AND OBEDIENCE DAY 8
for me miraculously thereafter. The list goes on.

Noah: Faith and Action Hebrews11:8

Genesis 6:11-7:1 In this study we will examine faith and obedience as demonstrated by
Do we or can we still have Noahs today? Do biblical Noahs still exist today? Ask Abraham. Some key words that need to be considered in this study: Faith,
yourself, are you a Noah? Obedience, Inheritance.
Why was Noah’s name the 3rd in Hebrews 11? This is a classical case and John Henry Jowett writes that: Abram began his journey without any
example of Faith and action working together. In the Bible passage, note the knowledge of his ultimate destination. He obeyed a noble impulse without
following: any discernment of its consequences. He took ‘’one step’’ and he did not ‘’ask to
- Noah did not see God face to face: Same today see the distant scene’’. And that is faith; to do God’s will here and now, quietly
- The whole earth was corrupt in God’s sight: Same today leaving the results to him. Faith is not concerned with the entire chain; its
- The earth was full of violence: Still the same today devoted attention is fixed upon the immediate link. Faith leaves something to
- In the midst of all these, God gave specific command and instructions to the Lord. It obeys His immediate commandment and leaves to Him direction
Noah: God’s commands and instructions are still with us today.Verse 22: and destiny.
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Why? The answer is,
his faith and action. He acted on his belief in God. Obedience: According to Hebrews commentary: The words ‘’when he was
called’’ are the translation of a present participle which speaks of action
Are you still doing everything today just as God commanded? We cannot say going on at the same time as that of the leading verb, which is ‘’obeyed’’.
we are Christians or disciples today with faith. Faith is the foundation and the The translation is ‘’ Abraham, while he was being called, obeyed. It indicates
basis of our relationship with God. All such faith must be backed up by action, Abraham’s immediate obedience to God’s call. The words ‘’to go out’’ are to be
what we do, not what we say. construed, not with ‘’called’’ but ‘’obeyed’. They specify in which his obedience
was shown. The idea is ‘’when he was called, obeyed to go’’
See James 2:14-24……….”Faith without deeds (action) is dead.”
God spoke to Noah and he did everything just as God commanded. What is Inheritance: (Kleronomia from Kleros = lot + nemo = give or distribute)
God saying to you today that you are not doing well? What instructions and derivative from the Greek word. It is literally that which is distributed by lot
commands of God are you ignoring today? These are questions on your faith. and so refers to a portion which one receives by lot in a general distribution
and then, in a more general sense means to possess oneself of, to receive as
Note: Just as God, in the days of Noah destroyed the world with water, so he is one’s own, to obtain. In other words it can refer to a property already received
going to bring the current world to an end one day (1 Peter 3:2). as well as one that is expected.
If we are not behaving like Noah today (faith and action), it will be impossible
for us to make it to heaven. Act on God’s word to you. James 1:22 He went out: Faith is coupled with obedience and leads to action. Unhesitating
God is not partial and does not show favoritism. God will not alter his standards obedience manifest by action. (James 2: 14-16). Do you have faith in God
because of us and because of the times we are living in. Be the Noah of today. enough to dare to obey? What is holding you back from obeying?
Work your faith, for this is your righteousness. Further Readings ACTIVITY: List out your fears. Share your fears with a trusted and stronger

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disciple of Christ. Now that you understand these key words: faith, obedience,
inheritance. Why not obey?

PRAYER: Help me Lord to know that you are faithful and all you need from me
is obedience. These are my fears --------- help me to overcome them.

Thank you. Scriptures for further study: Exo 19:5, Deut 11:1, John 15:9, 2Cor
10:5, Isaiah 51:2, Neh 9:7-8,Rom 1:5,Heb 13:17, John 15:14, John 14:15, 2John
1: 6,Luke 11:28.

DAY 9 A STRANGER IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY

Hebrews 11:9
To learn about life of faith and how to live like a stranger or pilgrim in a foreign
land, it makes sense to go to Abraham. Genesis 12-25 chronicles his story.
Please stop right here and go study this. Welcome back!

By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as a stranger, making his

home in tents, moving it from place to place, as God ordered him. Just as our
father Abraham was a sojourner just passing through Canaan, journeying ‘‘ By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise,
toward heaven, we too are on this earth only for a short while. We should not as a stranger, making his home in tents, moving it
settle in it as though it’s the last bus stop.
from place to place, as God ordered him. Just as our
For most who profess to be following Christ, their view of Christianity is father Abraham was a sojourner just passing through
geared towards the here and now: What will it do for my marriage/career/
wellbeing? How will it help me raise my kids, buy a few properties? Will it help
Canaan, journeying toward heaven, we too are on this
me overcome personal problems and make lots of money? earth only for a short while...’’
These folks don’t want any view that teaches about suffering, denying self,
fleeing from worldly desires. These “Christians” see living as strangers as
something to be postponed and avoided at all costs.

Are you one of these Christians? In what ways has your view changed over
time? In preparing for this devotional, this truth hit me in a fresh way. Going
through one of my reference scriptures, 1 Cor. 15:19: “If we have hoped in

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Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

I thought, “Does my lifestyle truthfully say that?” Does yours my brother/sister? THE CITY OF GOD DAY 10
There’s nothing wrong about enjoying God and His blessings on us in this life.
But if we don’t hold the things of this life loosely, we are holding to a shallow
slippery ground. Hebrews 11:10
Close your eyes for a second and conjure up an image of a beautiful city. What
Our text in Hebrews, to live as strangers/pilgrims, there is a mind-set to adopt, do you see? What comes to mind? For me I see New York City, ‘The city that
& a lifestyle to maintain. never sleeps’as it is known by many, the sights, the sounds, the smells, it’s a
marvel to behold even in this day and age, but was it always so grand? Self
1. Strangers/Pilgrims adopt a mind-set. sustaining? Beautiful? Surely not. Same as most things in this world, it had
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens/strangers, foreigners/exiles...” (1 Pet 2:11-12). humble beginnings and grew, steadily becoming what it is today as a result of
That’s how we are to think about ourselves: We are thus aliens and strangers all the blood, sweat, tears, dreams, ideas and hard work put into it.
on this earth which is for now under the dominion of the evil one. We’re in
enemy territory. The founders of this great city had vision, they saw purpose where others
A traveller doesn’t live according to the customs/standards of the foreign likely saw a waste of time and resources, it is because of this vision and drive
country. For the sake of not offending the locals, he may temporarily adopt that New York is what it is today. it is and always will be because of the faith
some of their customs, if they are morally neutral, in order not to offend the they had in what their initially small territory would become, but even they
natives. Pilgrims have a destination in mind, and they look forward to getting most likely didn’t see this far ahead in its development, if you could tell them
there. what their small dream has become, well... They would probably write you off
as insane. Yet a city was promised to an average Joe, Abraham.
2. Pilgrims have a lifestyle to maintain.
“Keep your behaviour excellent among the Gentiles” (1 Peter 2:12). The word Genesis 12:7
“behaviour” (used in 1 Pet. 1:15, 18; the verb as used in 1 Pet. 1:17 & 2 Pet. 2:18) Not even to him but to his generation, An entire city filled with his descendants
means conduct/lifestyle. It points to the overall flavour of our lives. even though at the time he as well as his wife were quite old and without even
a single child, yet what did Abraham do? He built an altar in honor of the Lord
Our lives should be marked by “good deeds” which conform to God’s Word, but as a sign of his faith. He had faith. And the lords promise was fulfilled.
which also, in a lesser sense, are viewed by even a godless culture as attractive.
Conclusion Hebrews 6:17
Now, the city of the Lord is yet to come, a city made of the purest gold, so
It’s so easy to get caught up in the lifestyle of the world, without even trying, pure it was likened to glass! And it’s foundations adorned with precious
you begin pursuing personal pleasure/affluence as the goals of your life. You diamonds, A city who’s Architect is the Lord most High.
want to get a little nicer house, a newer car, and a few more trinkets.
Hebrews 11:10 Revelations 21:2-27
And God? His church? To the extent that they fit into that scheme and help We have been told of this, so a decision is in order. Are you and I going to write
you reach those goals, you get involved. But in the final analysis, you’re living what has been given to us as Insane??
for the same thing as everyone else in this world: Self-fulfillment/personal
happiness. Or Are we going to follow the example left to us by Abraham and show great
faith in the LORDS words?

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Section 2

But my righteous one will live by faith.

And I take no pleasure in the one who
shrinks back. But we do not belong to
those who shrink back and are
destroyed, but to those who have
faith and are saved
Hebrews 10: 38-39

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for the best (Heb 10:24). Even though the physical evidence indicated clearly
DAY 11 FAITH AND THE IMPOSSIBLE that I might not have been qualified based on established Church Standards
for baptism, faith and hope were the compelling reasons for the Evangelist
and others to allow my baptism that night.
Hebrews 11:11
Gen 18:11-14 Charles Eliku only knew in part (1 Cor 13:9) but in spite of his doubts, he said he
“You too can become a disciple in just one day like the Ethiopian Eunuch if could not dismiss the urgency of a Young Soul seeking to be reconciled with
you are willing” Sola told me after church service on the 29th September, his God (2 Cor 7:11). He could not and would not also disappoint nor dare
1991. I had casually attended 2 to 3 Church Services of the Lagos Christian to injure the faith and desires of the two young Christian Soldiers – Sola and
Church holding inside Federal Palace Hotel to make up for my missed services Ebun who had both taken a whole day off their normal beats to pursue their
as an Anglican since I had to work at the swimming pool of the hotel as a DJ dream of carrying out a “Chariots-ride Bible Study” and baptizing someone
weekends from 8am daily. Like Sarah, I inwardly laughed at the incredulous within 24 hours (Acts 8: 26-39).
guy before me whom I honestly thought was a joker. I thought that I was so far
gone on the other side of life to all of a sudden be transformed within 24 hours Faith is not the complete absence of initial doubts but the overcoming of such
into a Righteous Man. I would have probably taken him seriously if he had said fears by a conviction that God who spoke the world into existence is able to do
something like in maybe 6 months, we would work together using scriptures all things – even the impossible (Rom 4:20-21).
to reshape my life and focus to be like Christ.
It is the complete and absolute surrender to God’s will even when it does not
Like the Ethiopian Eunuch, I was an adventurer and the next morning by 5am, sometimes make human sense to do so (1 Cor 1:18) but yields an expected
I packed a bag for the day, left for the regular office where I did my day job and end based on Gods promise to every Christian. Faith causes us to believe that
left a note for my boss that I was going to be transformed into a new man and if any situation does not exist and we act in faith, our faith in God and “follow-
by the time I returned to work the next day, I would be a “True Christian”. That through” action to back up such beliefs will cause God to bring such desires
night, on the 30th of September, 1991 around 11pm at the brother flat at Ikeja, into existence if we act in accordance with His will. Faith precedes the action
I was baptized into Christ. I was honestly expecting to develop some special of a Christian but acts in tandem (hand-in-hand) all the time with our Action.
powers rising out of that baptistry and was eager to unleash myself to begin Faith is never a “follow-up”, it is as described a “follow-through” Action. Hence
healing every sick, blind and crippled person in Lagos. Those powers never a faithful Christian does not and must not act on what he or she does not
came to me even with prayers and fasting but my life did get transformed. believe in, rather he or she is compelled to act on his or her beliefs.

Sitting in the cost counting sessions of other intending disciples of Jesus who Mark 9:23 – “Nothing is impossible for him who believes”, and our faith will
did not make it into the waters of baptism months later, it was clear to me that move mountains and remove every obstacle on our way if we come to God
I too during my interview to become a disciple had flunked the answers to the and act in pure faith in accordance with his will. In this realm of a Christian’s
questions. Why was I then baptized when some of these candidates could not spiritual life, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!
until they overcame their respective challenges?

As the Evangelist Charles Eliku explained to me years later about what his
thoughts were that night when I posed this same question to him about the
events of that night, he said he genuinely feared that I might not last but hoped

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innumerable nation! But from God’s time frame, the true children of Abraham,
DAY 12 THE POWER IN ONE MAN’S FAITH those who believe in Abraham’s seed, Jesus Christ, number in the millions!
From our limited time frame, certain events don’t fit with God’s promises.
Abraham paved the way. Let us follow in his path. God bless you
Hebrews 11:12
In two senses, he became a father by faith. Literally speaking, It was humanly Further reading: Hosea 1:10, Jeremiah 33:22, Deuteronomy 1:10,
impossible for Sarah to give birth, yet Abraham believed. Figuratively, he is the
father of us all.
FAITH AND PATIENCE DAY 13
Abraham obeyed when he did not know how God’s will would be accomplished.
Both Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children. Yet they both believed
that God would do the miracle. Unbelief asks, “How can this be?” Faith asks, Hebrews 11:13
“How shall this be” “…They did not receive the things promised ; they only saw them and
welcomed them from a distance…”
Genesis 22:17-18 Someone once asked “What kind of child would I really have become if my
Consider how unreasonable God’s request was. Isaac was Abraham’s only son, father had given me everything I ever wanted when I wanted it?” Your guess is
and the future of the covenant rested in him. Isaac was a miracle child, the gift as good as mine – “spoilt”“ungrateful” and “lazy” are but a few apt descriptions!
of God to Abraham and Sarah in response to their faith. Abraham and Sarah The men and women of old who trusted in God did not always see the answer
loved Isaac very much and had built their whole future around him. When God to their prayers instantly. Some of them, according to scripture, did not even
asked Abraham to offer his son, He was testing Abraham’s faith, hope, and see their prayers answered in their lifetime. Imagine Abraham living as an alien
love; and it looked like God was wiping out everything Abraham and Sarah in a makeshift tent in Canaan. There are nights he must have stayed awake and
had lived for. asked, “God… so…is this the plan? I thought you promised that I would have
this whole place as my inheritance!” And yet, God was never asleep. He was
When God sends a trial to us, our first response is usually, “Why, Lord?” and working all that time, fulfilling His divine and glorious purposes. Why do we
then, “Why me?” Right away, we want God to give us explanations. Of course, often have to wait?
we know that God has reasons for sending tests — perhaps to purify our faith,
or perfect our character, or even to protect us from sin When God makes us wait for what He has promised He wants us to learn the
virtue of patience. Patience grows our faith. It makes us see more of God and
Rom 4:18-25 less of ourselves. It teaches us to submit and surrender. It humbles us to realize
There is a direct correlation between hoping against all hope and faith. that we are meant to be a part of God’s plan and God is not meant to be a
Abraham’s faith sustained his hope to see God’s promise fulfilled, even when part of our own plan. When we have learned to be patient, our praise takes
it defiled human logic a different dimension. There is something profound that waiting does to our
character.
Conclusion
One of the most important lessons in the school of faith is to learn that God’s Dear Christian, are you troubled, anxious or unsettled because you feel God is
time is not our time. From Abraham’s time frame, even though he lived for 175 slow in answering your prayers and petitions?
years, God’s promises may seem failed. He died with some children, hardly an Lift your eyes for a moment to see the One who has the whole spreadsheet of

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your life before Him. Thank Him for what He is doing that you have not seen.
Ask Him to give you a heart of faith and patience so that at the end of the BURN YOUR SHIPS DAY 15
day you will not only receive what He has divinely promised, but you will be
transformed by His divine process.
Hebrews 11:15
FURTHER READING: Rom 8:24-25, 2 Pet 3:8-9, Isaiah 55:8-9, Ps 40:1-3 Hernando Cortes is well known for his brutalities during his conquer of Aztec
lands for Spain. When his ships landed, to prevent mutiny he ordered his
ships burned and sunk. Panic would have enveloped the soldiers.
DAY 14 LOOKING FORWARD TO A CITY OF YOUR OWN The soldiers didn’t have any opportunity to go back home. We have every
opportunity but must choose not to take on those opportunities because of
our “faith”. It’s forward and never backward.
Hebrews 11:14
When I come home late from work I notice the sleeping pattern of the security Abraham left his country at God’s command, and he never went back. The
guards about four of them. Two on dirty foams with mosquito nets on the proof of faith lies in perseverance.
compound floor, one under the stairway wrapped like a corpse for burial
with no net and another in the security post wrapped the same way with no It is a wonder that we have not gone back to the world, and to our own sin.
net. Now and again they send large quantity of goods to their country - Niger. We have opportunities in our daily calling. Most of us work in the midst of
They were not investing in Nigeria but working in Nigeria and investing in ungodly men. We have opportunities to sin as they do, to fall into their excess,
Niger where their home is. They are not the only ones, this is the lifestyle of into their forgetfulness of God, or even into their blasphemies.
all aliens including Nigerians in diaspora.
When we pray diligently, we not only get nearer to God, Satan seems to
For these people it is easy to work out their alien nature and where their get nearer to us. Opportunities to return to sin will be prevalent till our very
home is, both can be seen. As Christians our homes here on earth can be last breath. Burning the ships of doubt has a motivational value that boldly
seen, readily and worked out but our home in heaven is unseen and can only declares that our purpose and our faith is all or nothing. As an ambassador
be understood by faith. Our alien nature here on earth exists only when we by for Christ in this world, there is no exit plan to abandon the cause of Christ! It
faith see our heavenly state and heavenly home. Without this faith we will not is either all or nothing; doubt cannot exist in the same place as our faith.
see our alien status but will take this world as our home and we will spend our
whole lives running around amassing wealth or just trying to survive until we In Genesis 24:6-8, Abraham expressed doubt – the possibility of the wife found
discover too late on our dying bed that it was all a big mistake and our wasted for Isaac by his servant, being unwilling to return home with the servant.
efforts in futility . With faith we see our alien nature on this world and like all However, he does not compromise his faith. He insists that on no account
aliens worldwide you will not invest in your foreign country (this world) but should his son be taken to the foreign land. What happens when we do not
have your investments in heaven when you pay your tithe, benevolence burn the ships? Genesis 19:17-26
giving anywhere, your love and loving lifestyle everywhere anytime, your
faith, your prayers, your hope in Christ, your seeking and saving the lost, your We long for past lives, we look back!!!
Godly service and the like. Because your investments are in heaven and not Are there old friends in your past whose contact you still keep (those you
here on earth , your heart will be in heaven and you will be looking forward to involved in sinful acts together?); now is the time to delete those contacts
your heavenly city. Without faith and your investments in heaven that will not completely. (Ephesians 4:27) – “do not give the devil a foothold”.
happen. 2nd Corinthians 4: 18-5:7, Phillipians 1:23

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Burn the ships…move forward in your faith and trust in the Lord for guidance, conform to the sinful standard of this world
protection and strength! He will never leave us or forsake us! (Deut. 31:6)
Characteristics of the faithful ones
PRACTICALS 1. Isa 41:8-10 The faithful ones know that they are chosen and are not afraid
Make a list of the “ship(s)” in your life Remember that you have been chosen by Jesus
Resolve & pray to burn it/them Remember that Jesus is in the boat with you
Talk to a disciple about it/them today; ask to be held accountable. The man who is in the boat with you was the one that calmed the sea
The one who made the paralytic man walk
The one who cast out demons and performed many miracles and even more
in your life. Fear comes from the devil and he is excited when we focus on
DAY 16 GOD IS PROUD OF THE FAITHFUL those fears because he knows that our attention at that time is not on God.

What are some of the fears that he throws along our path?
Hebrews 11:16 Will I ever have a child?
“I am proud of you” Everyone longs and loves to hear those words. Will I ever get married?
This phrase puts a bounce on our feets when we hear it from our bosses, How will I be able to financial provide for my family? etc.
friends, parents and especially from our spouses for those of us who are
married The above questions and more are real but remember who has chosen you
It is a phrase that makes you feel that you can do more and even break and the man Jesus who is with you
boundaries
2. Our desires should always be to do the will of our father who is in heaven
I remember some years ago immediately after the burial of my mother which is our home - Luke 22: 41-44
in-law, my wife said to me- “I am proud of you” I felt it was the greatest Paul said to die and be with Christ is much better than living on earth but
acknowledgement ever received since we got married staying meant faithful labour for Christ -Phip1:21-24

The truth is that God is proud of the faithful We should not put our trust in earthly wealth but in God who provides eternal
Heb 11: 16 – Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. wealth – 1Tim 6:17-19
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a Earthly possessions are like trash compared to gaining Christ and the power of
city for them His resurrection -Phip3:7-11
We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out. Instead of
Yes, we are in the world but not of the world. Our standard of living should be wealth, we should pursue eternal life - 1Tim6:6-12. In the end those who trust
of the heavenly home that has been prepared for us and our guide to daily in themselves will perish with their wealth – Ps49:5-15
living should be of heaven.
3. 2nd Tim 4:18 -The faithful ones pray continually
Job 1: 8 – Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? See the way David prayed when it seems that all hope was lost and he was
There is no one on earth like him, he is blameless and upright, a man who fears drowning. Save me, O God! For the water have come up to my neck! I sink in
God and shuns evil. It was obvious that God was proud of Job. In the same deep mire, where there is no foothold, I have come into deep waters and the
way, God is proud of you when you make your focus heaven and refused to

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flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. so be it.
My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God but as for me, my prayer is to you, In the OT, Abraham was willing to kill his only son, the one through whom
O Lord at an acceptable time, O God in the abundance of your steadfast love God had promised to bless him. Why? His relationship with God was more
answer me in your saving faithfulness! Psalm 69:1-36 important than his relationship with Isaac. He loved Isaac no doubt, but he
loved God more.
What a prayer! What passion! What an expression of faith in a terrible
circumstance! What takes precedence over your relationship with God?
And the response, the Lord heard the needy and does not despise his own Personally, I started knowing peace in my life only when God took his rightful
people for God will save His people , Call on me in the day of trouble and I will position of master over my life. When possessions ruled my life, worries never
deliver you -Ps.50:15 ceased, cause there was always the fear of stuff being used up. Trusting my life
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not fear – Ps. 23:1 into God’s hands however ushered in peace. When like Abraham, we get to the
The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid – Ps. 27:1 place where nothing is too much to let go, we find a God who provides what
The Bible says call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you we truly need for our lives to be joyful and peaceful.
will honour me. This is an assurance given to the faithful ones but not so with
the wicked. Psalm 50: 15
THERE WILL BE A TEST DAY 18
DAY 17 NOT TOO MUCH TO LET GO
Hebrews 11:18
The test of Abraham’s faith and his willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, was
Hebrews 11:17 the summit of faith in all history, except for Jesus’ sacrifice.
Genesis 22 :1-16
Why do we struggle to let go of our possessions and ourselves in the service of The Book of Hebrew show believers facing trials that faith overcomes all
God? I believe strongly that it is because of our value system. What do we place obstacles, even when circumstances seem contrary to God’s promises.
the most premium on? A biblical character that comes to mind immediately Faith is like a muscle: it grows stronger by frequent use. Thus, God will test our
is young man who over the years has been labelled “the rich young ruler”. He faith…But never beyond what we can bear.
liked Jesus, he would have loved to be with Jesus, but he loved his possessions
more. See Matt 19:16-23 God tests us and every test is potentially a temptation. Though temptation
does not come from God but from our sinful lusts (James 1:13-14). If we sin
Contrast this unnamed man with another character named Zacchaeus. under testing, we cannot blame God, because He provides ways of escape for
Luke 19:8-9 NIV. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! us in every test. He knows how much we can handle (1 Cor. 10:13).
Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated
anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” [9] Jesus said If we fail the test, rather than blaming God, we need to examine why we failed
to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a and learn from it. Proverbs 19:3 observes, “A man’s folly leads to their ruin, yet
son of Abraham. their heart rages against the Lord.”
What was different? Zacchaeus placed a higher premium on his relationship
with God. If becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ would cost him everything, Rather than rage against the Lord, we need to accept responsibility for our

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failures. God tests our faith, but never beyond what we can bear. someone or something. This then means that an Absolute trust in God on my
God’s purpose in testing our faith is not to make it fail, but to reveal the quality part would need to be a non-diminishing confidence in God and his abilities
of our faith and help us grow. mentioned in the Bible.

Tests prove to us and others the quality of our faith. If we submit to God in tests Trust can be a very challenging thing to find in our world today. We all have
by trusting Him, our faith will grow stronger. stories of some way our trust was shattered leaving behind that awful feeling
of betrayal. It is difficult to trust the people we see and interact with every day;
It is encouraging to realize that this test of sacrificing Isaac was not the first one even harder to trust an invisible God. That being said trust in God is one of
God laid on Abraham, and to know that Abraham had failed some earlier tests the most important attributes in the Christian walk, in fact in any significant
gives even me hope. relation, trust is key. Proverbs 3:5 says” trust in the Lord with all your heart and
lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submits to him, and he
God was patient and faithful to keep working with Abraham, growing his faith will make your paths straight.” This is the why behind my decision to trust God.
through repeated tests. He has the best laid plans; as we go through life every day, the world hurls
Abraham obeyed God promptly without argument, even though God’s all sorts at us and it quickly becomes apparent that taking my life out of the
command seemed to contradict His promise to Abraham. hands of the almighty and placing it in the clutches of the world around me
Abraham, being human, must have wrestled emotionally with this command, is the most dangerous thing I can do. So putting my absolute trust in the one
yet he arose early the next morning and proceeded to obey. Wow! who has the blue print of all I will ever be seems to make perfect sense. It is
however a daily decision of surrender.
When God’s Word commands us to do something difficult or objectionable,
we too must learn to obey promptly. It may be the command to love a difficult In Ephesians 3:20a it says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
person etc. We must submit to God with resolved obedience if we want to than ALL we ask or imagine…..” (Emphasis mine) Our great God holds the
keep growing. entire world we live in, in the palm of his hands He can do anything, ALL things
to be precise but do I trust him fully? Do you trust him? If we did trust him, it
Conclusion: Abraham’s test was the highpoint of his faith: When God tests you, would be evident in the lives we live on a daily basis.
believe that He will keep His promises. There will also be that test of all teasts
that will lifet you beyod the ordinary like this particular did to Abraham. We all have lofty dreams that seem so out of reach in our own strength, but
May we all climb higher in our faith when the test of all tests comes! if we have a focus; a trust in a power greater than ours to conquer, we are
already half way to the victory. Look at our Father Abraham he wanted an heir;
that was his lofty dream, the bible says that he and Sarah where old in fact as
DAY 19 ABSOLUTE TRUST good as dead as far as reproductive science goes it was a dead end. So how
would this dream be realized?
Seems impossible; yet in Genesis 22:4-5 his dream stood there right next to
Hebrews 11:19, Romans 4:19-21 him about to ascend mount Moriah. Abraham did face the facts as we can
The English dictionary describes the word absolute as -not qualified or see in Romans 4:17-21 but in the end he chose to believe despite the clear
diminished in anyway; total, with synonyms such as complete, thorough, hopelessness of his situation.
outright, entire, decided and perfect these words we can easily relate to.
It describes the word trust as a firm belief in the reality, truth or ability of Look at the barren Hannah who waited years for a Son; look at Joseph

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imprisoned for a crime he did not commit only to emerge as Prime minister
in a foreign land; there is Noah seemingly crazy to build a massive boat
in a drought. The examples are endless; Gods plans are always turn out
magnificent even though they start of obscure; in order to wait purposefully
and effectively, we must trust him absolutely even when it looks ridiculous.
How is it looking for you right now and what will your response be? We must
trust and Obey as the famous hymn goes; trust and obey for there is no other
way, if our goal is to please the lover of our souls, we must trust him and
surrender while we wait for our lofty dreams to come to fruition.

Further reading:
Romans 4:17-21, Proverbs 3:5-8, Matthew 9:28, Genesis 22:4-5

DAY 20 FAITH AND THE GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS

Hebrews 11:20
Faith, it has been said, “gives to its possessor the eyes of the seer and visionary
and a quiet confidence in the future.” That’s a good way to look at the issue.
And it hints at the kind of power faith endows its possessor with, the ability to
see life beyond the horizon. That’s what faith gives us.
‘
The son, grandson, and great grandson of Abraham span the generations and
centuries by faith, and in their declining years with death approaching, the ‘‘ Faith, it has been said, “gives to its possessor the eyes
patriarchs Jacob and Joseph passed on blessings and instructions concerning of the seer and visionary and a quiet confidence in the
the Promised Land.
future.” That’s a good way to look at the issue. And it
With this verse, the writer of this letter begins to show us what the tradition hints at the kind of power faith endows its possessor
of the “patriarchal blessings” involves. In the case of Abraham, it was Isaac that with, the ability to see life beyond the horizon.....’’
received his father’s blessing, not his brother Ishmael. It’s not that there was
something wrong with Ishmael, it’s that Isaac was destined to become the son
of the Promise. In the following generation, it was Jacob, not his brother Esau,
that received his father’s blessing. Again, it wasn’t that Esau was an evil person,
it was God’s will that the Promise be passed onto Jacob. And in the generation
that followed, it wasn’t Rueben, Jacob’s first-born that received the blessing,

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it was Joseph who was blessed. And it wasn’t Joseph’s first born who received and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones
the blessing, it was Ephraim who received the choice blessing. up from this place.” (Genesis 50:23c-25)

What this teaches us about God is vitally important for us as disciples to He actually spoke those words to brothers, though his descendants would
understand. It is God who is in control, and His sovereign will does not abide have heard them too. The thread of the promise binds the patriarchs in faith
by man’s traditions, thinking,culture or rules. In other words, regardless of our that transcends time.
wants and wishes; regardless of what our society deems to be the norm, God’s It’s the thread of the Word of God that binds our families together, too, and it
will is accomplished as He sees fit. transcends time. Of all the things we can pass on to our posterity, none is more
vitally important than God’s Word. We want so much to pass on a heritage –
Yet, God still used those to whom He had given a measure of faith. Each of the usually financial – to our children, without realizing how temporal that kind of
patriarchs blessed their children with a prophetic insight, and while each time heritage is. It’s dangerous too because unearned wealth almost always causes
a single son was blessed with that special blessing related to the Promise, all problems. The Word of God, though, is what solves problems. It was Peter who
the children were blessed. said these words in one of his great sermons:

But we notice something else. In addition to passing on God’s blessing to the Acts 2:39
next generation, something else was passed on: Indeed it is. The Christian parent receives it and passes it on to their children.
Or, at least they’re supposed to. If you are a parent, hopefully you have or are
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and passing the Word of God onto your children. But even if you aren’t a parent,
worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his you’re still on the hook. Others may be blessed by your faith. That’s right! If you
end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave are living a life of faith, then all those whom you rub shoulders with, stand to
instructions about his bones. (Hebrews 11:21-22 | NIV84) be blessed simply because of your possession of faith.

Words of worship and instruction were passed on. God’s Word was given to That’s a lot of power in deed!
the younger generation by the older one. They didn’t have a Bible – no Old
or New Testament to read to them – all they had was the promise given to
Abraham. That’s all these patriarchs had, and that’s what they gave to their
children. That Word from God was never forgotten; it was so important it was
spoken from the deathbed, as it were.

What Joseph taught his family is important. Of all the things Joseph could
have talked about; of all his amazing experiences he could have passed on to
his family, he chose the Promise, and how his descendants would relate to it.
Again, it’s the prophetic insight talking.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come
to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath

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Section 3

By faith Noah, when warned about

things not yet seen, in holy fear built
an Ark to save his family. By faith he
condemned the world and became heir
of the righteousness that is in keeping
with the righeousness
Hebrews 11: 7

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JOSHUA 14: 6-14

DAY 21 AGING FAITHFULLY God blessed Caleb at the age of 80, with the vigor and energy of a 40 year old,
and enabled him to fight and conquer the hill country of his inheritance.
PHILLIPIANS 4: 13
Hebrew 11: 21 You can do all things in spite of your age because Christ can enable you if you
There are two periods in the life of a man. They may be identified as the early have faith in him.
life of between 1 - 50 years while the older life may be classified as being How committed are you to God now that you are still alive?
between 51 – 100 years. It has been discovered that there is a clear difference Today, I am above 71 years of age with all the normal physical deficiencies of
between the levels of strength available to a person during each period. old age yet I am able to do my best for God, the church, my community and my
The old life naturally suffers a setback in the level of strength available for family. Jesus can do the same for you if you surrender yourself to him today.
performance and commitment due to aging.
There is a motivating power that bridges the gap between the two levels of
strength. The motivation that defies the deteriorating physique is the mind THE FAITHFUL VISIONARY DAY 22
that contains faith which helps to retain constancy in performance and
commitment throughout a life time. To age faithfully to any commitment,
there must be a mind of faith in every person to pull through life successfully. Hebrews 11: 22
The scripture in Hebrew 11:21 shows the life of Jacob and his attitude of faith. Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers
He had a covenant with God through his grandfather Abraham and his father (Gen. 37). Eventually, Joseph was sold again, this time to an official of the
Isaac to possess Canaan as the land allotted to his descendants that was yet Pharaoh of Egypt. Because of Joseph’s faithfulness however, he was given a
to be built. Abraham had this promise, but could not get it till he died. He top ranking position in Egypt. Although he could have used that position to
handed it to Isaac who also did not get it but had faith to get it. Isaac handed build a personal empire, he remembered God’s promise to Abraham. After he
the legacy to his son Jacob. God kept renewing his promises during the had been reconciled to his brothers, Joseph was able to bring his family near
lifetime of each succeeding generation. and requested that his bones be taken to the Promised Land when the Jews
“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and returned – Exodus 13: 19, Genesis 50: 24-25, Joshua 24: 32
worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Hebrews 11: 21. Jacob firmly
believed that God would keep his promises and raise his descendants to Faith means trust in God and his divine power in our lives no matter what
become a great nation. challenges, trials and temptations we face. Joseph had every reason to be
bitter, angry and frustrated with the various setbacks he faced. He had a
Ecclesiastes 12: 1 dream but did not know how such would be accomplished. He kept his faith
This scripture shows that age is no barrier to faith. No matter how old you and focus on God as he took the knocks that life brought his way. Never giving
may be, your decision to follow God to store faith in you can begin today as up, never relenting!
your day of youth. God has a way of reversing age to pick knowledge and
understanding of himself for the gift of his wisdom. The faithful visionary is one who keeps his trust in God, hoping and believing
One is never too young or too old to think faithfully. Being full of faith is a that his desires to accomplish great things will come to pass irrespective of
decision we must renew in our hearts on a daily basis. I do not know the stage any challenges or drawbacks. Most times we forget our purpose and vision
of life you are but you need to know that you are to age faithfully to God as of great things we want to accomplish for God, because we are dwelling
you travel through life. too much on our hurts, disappointments and frustrations. Joseph had every

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reason to let go of his dreams because the odds were stacked up against him; James 2:18-20.
instead he looked to God for strength. Did these people know the consequences of their actions? Imagine if you knew
the consequence of your actions could result in your death or imprisonment,
Are there unresolved conflicts, hurtful feelings and bitter disappointments would you still go ahead, and do it? They were not afraid of the king’s edict
that are holding you back from looking forward with faith to the wonderful but put their lives on the line for the sake of their son. They did not only put
things God wants to do with you this year? their own lives on the line, they did same with Moses’ life by putting him out
in the water.
Joseph had to reconcile with the past to set his sight clear for the future. He had
to let go of his hurts and forgive his brothers. Forgiveness and reconciliation Was their faith rewarded? Yes, it was more than rewarded. Was it rewarded
takes great faith and courage. When you set your heart free, you will see great because they were afraid or because they chose to banish fear and act out of
things that God will use you to do. faith in God? So too will your holding on to God be rewarded.

1.Make a list of people you will need to reconcile/reconnect with this week. Where faith is concerned, fear quivers. Where faith is concerned, fear gives way
2.List 5 things you want to accomplish this year – think big! to guts and courage. Are you going to allow the fears of your boss at work, you
friends comment, etc. to stop you from acting in faith?

DAY 23 FAITH DOES NOT FEAR The lesson in these for me is that I will face trials and temptations in life. My
faith will be challenged. When faced with situations beyond my control, I must
not give in to fear but act in faith and do what pleases God.
Hebrews 11:23,
Exodus 2:2- 10, Daniel 6:10, Isaiah 41:14, Psalm 118:6 (NIV)
Here was a family that was faced with trials and challenges like you and I today. FAITH IS MY IDENTITY DAY 24
They were faced with the same challenges every Jewish family was faced with.
They decided to be different, and not flow with the lot.
As I sit to write and meditate, I had to ask myself these questions and I want
Daniel was equally faced with similar challenges as Moses’ parents. He decided you to ask yourself same as well
to fear God and not be perturbed about the consequences pronounced by a - What is my identity?
mere mortal. All he wanted to do was please the Lord God almighty. He cared - What do I stand for?
more about obeying God, than fearing the death penalty. - What do people know me to stand for?

What influenced their decision to hold on to God rather than have the fear Moses stood up for something
of a mere mortal? Psalm 118:6 is a good response to this question. They He would rather be a slave with God’s people rather than be an Egyptian Royal.
understood God’s promises and His ability to see them through the storm. How would I rather live? As a person striving daily to be righteous, a child of
But they did not just have faith; they backed up their faith with actions. Moses’ God or just like everyone else – A “Believer” who seems to have it all good?
parents hid him for three months, before they placed in a basket on the Nile Things are tough in Nigeria right now and with it comes all kinds of reasons to
with his sister to watch out for him. Daniel backed his faith with actions. He cut corners, cheat and lie so that we can make the ‘extras’ to make ends meet.
went ahead to pray to his God. A very practical approach as indicated by I know because I am being owed a year’s salary from October 2016 to date and

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the temptations come on a daily basis but I choose not to cut corners or cheat
to make extra but rather have looked for other side businesses to do. FAITH & PRIORITIES DAY 25
How willing are you not to cut corners or to believe the Prosperity preachers
and “Claim your Prosperity”?
Hebrews.11:25
Exodus 2:10 – 11, Acts 7: 21-24 Priorities – “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things
Moses grew up more as an Egyptian rather than a Hebrew (He was only with which matter least.”
his birth mother as a baby). He was a beloved son of the Princess, grandson of What matters most to us? - Sharing the oppression of God’s people or enjoying
Pharaoh, doted on and served by servants. the fleeting pleasure of sin?
Well educated and trained in Egyptian wisdom.
Yet, he made a choice to follow the rough path rather than the greener pasture At every point in our lives, our choices vary; at some point we choose the
of Egypt. pleasure of sin and other times share in the oppressions of God’s people.

What is attracting you back to Egypt… the gods? The Israelites, who were God’s chosen and peculiar people, went through so
- The way they pray? many oppressions and sufferings. Moses through a turn of fate found himself
- The prosperity messages? in the lap of luxury. Yet Moses chose to suffer the same afflictions his people
- The economic wealth? did. He chose to sympathize with them rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin
- That job that compromises your righteousness? for a season. He refused to approve Pharaoh’s cruelty and persecution, or even
- Running your business the way the corrupt society demands. connive in it. Otherwise, he knew he would be entangled in the same sin.

All these at what cost? He opted against carrying himself as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, knowing
Temporary pleasures. he was a Hebrew. He did not prioritize his own ease above the deliverance of
Loss of your children due to lack of values. his people; It was by faith Moses made this choice, for it is contrary to flesh
Eternal damnation. and blood: it showed him to be a man thoroughly acquainted with the nature
Is it worth going to Hell for? of sin. Moses looked beyond the temporal things of this world, to those of
eternity. Moses deliberately made that choice.
Moses chose to be identified with God walking the rough unfamiliar road and
not the familiar comfortable life of Egypt. When we have to choose between being broke and giving a bribe to get
That is FAITH. a contract, what would be our choice? Would we rather tell a lie to get a
promotion than tell the truth and remain on the same grade?
I choose to be a disciple of Christ, following daily on the rough and narrow Agreed, there is a degree of pleasure in sin. It is not happiness! The apostle
path, I choose to be different, I choose to stand with God – Faith is my IDENTITY calls it “pleasure,” excitement, hilarity, merriment, amusement. Happiness is
more solid and enduring than “pleasure;” and solid happiness is not found in
Additional scriptures; the ways of sin. Solid happiness is found in God through “faith”.
Hab 2:4, James 2:18, 1 Thess 1:8 and 2 Thess 1:11
The pleasure of sin is only “for a season.” It will all soon pass away. Had Moses
lived at the court of Pharaoh all his days, it would have been only for a little

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“season.” These pleasures soon vanish, because: life itself is short compared to treasures, sin is treasurable as well. In earthly terms, it is worth something. It
eternity. Our priorities should be things that will last for eternity not fleeting has value. Like the treasures of Egypt, sin is pleasurable and visible. Sin can
pleasures. This could only be achieved through our faith in God. makes you feel good. Sin is tangible, magnetic and real.

Further readings: Psalm 84:10, 2Corinthians 5:17, James 5:5, 2Timothy 3:11-12 This explains why Moses needed superior awareness for the radical choice he
Colossians 1:24 made. He knew that even though some elements of disgrace and discomfort
might exist initially, there is a lasting reward to look up to at the end.

Little wonder he was prepared to sacrifice heavy earthly inducements of Egypt,

DAY 26 LOOKING AHEAD
and the “pleasures of sin,” to win the lasting and precious “treasure” of true,
lasting satisfaction of being with God’s people, and securing that heavenly
inheritance that lies beyond.
Hebrews 11:26
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the
On the surface of it, you may ask: why would Moses ever make that trade? Why
treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
would he give up so much? But you have to see that Moses was making a long-
There is an interesting story of a French botanist, who was sent out many years
term investment. The promises of sin were short, but the rewards of faith were
ago to the tropics to import by all means the coffee-plant into the island of
eternal and more rewarding.
Mauritius to boost the island’s economic prosperity. Regrettably the voyage
was very long; negative winds prevailed; almost all the plants he brought with
Moses saw that, and he believed. And because he believed, he acted. He
him died. Consumable water became so scarce in the ship that the passengers
burned his ships with sin, turned his back on Pharaoh, and agreed to be
were only served one glassful per day--one coffee-plant only was left! To
mistreated with God’s people for the cause of Christ.
preserve this one plant alive, the self-denying botanist gave half of his small
daily allowance of water, patiently enduring the torments of thirst. It was just
As Christians, when we made the decision to follow Jesus, it was a choice to
enough to keep the plant from dying, and the happy result in later years was
value the rewards of faith more than the promises of sin. When we follow
the naturalisation of coffee in the island of Mauritius.
Jesus, just like Moses, we are making a decisive choice to burn our bridges
with sin and never look back.
Such were the fruits of self-denial from a scientist who was able to endure
.Have you burnt your bridges with sin, with a strong determination to look
great discomfort as he looked ahead for some great earthly rewards.
constantly ahead? Or are you still hanging around, looking back intermittently,
During Moses’ time, Egypt abounded in great wealth. Moses knew he had
and waiting to see if “Egypt” has a better offer than Christ? Are you keeping
great prospect of inheriting large treasures. As the adopted son of the
retreat as an option in your Christian life?
daughter of the king, he would naturally be heir to a great estate in Egypt.
But he voluntarily gave them up because he knew and believed there was
Total victory over sin requires long-term perspectives. Like Moses, we
a greater reward ahead. He made the uncomfortable choice of “burning his
should look ahead to see our purpose clearly to avoid distractions. We must
ship” because he was able to look ahead to see better things.
deliberately make choices from a heavenly, long-term perspective, rather than
indulging the sinful nature in the short term. We must constantly choose never
In today’s main passage, the writer of Hebrews equates Egypt to temptation
to be comfortable with “the world” and its corrupting ways.
and sin. Moses chose faith, God and God’s people (and by extension, Hebrews
says, he chose Christ). He chose Christ over sin.” Just like Egypt with it bountiful
That is when we can boldly say Like Paul: - Philippians 3:7-9 (NIV)

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of your hands, but nothing seems to be working, instead, things are getting
DAY 27 FAITH PERSEVERES worse. Do not worry; there is an appointed time for everything. While you wait
for the break through, focus on the invisible - focus on God. Draw strength
from his word and it will surely come to pass.
Hebrews 11:27
Today is a great day! Don’t stop believing!
Since the beginning of this devotional, God has been taking you on a journey of
faith; you’ve been learning what faith is; how you can grow and move forward Further Reading: Ecclesiastics 3:1, Exodus 6-12, Hebrews 11, 1 Peter 1:8, 2
in your walk with God. Today, you will learn yet another vital ingredient that Corinthians 4:18
will strengthen your faith – Perseverance. It’s defined as the continued effort
to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition. (Google)
Hebrews 11 is commonly known as the hall of fame for men and women who FAITH, OBEDIENCE AND SALVATION DAY 28
showed great examples of faith in the Old Testament – Abel, Enoch, Noah,
Abraham, Sarah, Moses etc. Each of these people was faced with unique
situations that were challenging yet; they all believed God for deliverance, and Hebrews11:28
God came through. Moses had just survived the wrath of the king; and was now being confronted
with survival from the wrath of God. The key to survival would be how much
Each of the people had to persevere one way or the other, Moses is also he was able to keep to God’s instructions and directives. Nine plagues had
considered as a hero of faith. He was made to confront his fears and lead his already devastated Egypt, when God gave Moses instructions on how
people. Take some moments to imagine what it would have been like growing Israel should observe the Passover. Of much significance at Passover celebration,
up amongst the enemies of your family and you could do little or nothing was the sacrificing of an unblemished male lamb. The blood of the sacrificed
about it, except patiently wait for God’s deliverance. He confronted Pharaoh lamb was to be sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel of every house in which
many times and every time, he was angrily rejected. We do not really know the Israelites dwelt. God had warned that He would come through the land on
how long this took, but Moses never gave up. This I believe was because he the Passover night and kill every firstborn male in homes without the blood
focused on the invisible, not the threats from Pharaoh, complaints from his on the doorposts. Moses’ faith was being put to test here.
people, not his doubts, but on the promises of God to deliver His people.
Moses in obedience, driven by faith in God, did not only keep all the rites and
Personally, I’ve been faced with several situations that really tested my faith. ceremonies of the Passover, but also caused the people of Israel to do the
Back in my undergraduate days, I needed to pay my school fees. I had a same. On the same night when the Lord smote the first born of Egypt; the
number of hopes and promises, several months raced passed and nothing angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites. All Israel were safe, and
came out, everyone disappointed me. It was now few days to exams and I not one of them was touched. This distinguished Israel from Egypt.
had no sign that I would get the money to pay, yet I was hopeful. I focused on
God’s promise to meet me at the point of my needs (Philippians 4:19), and He A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. True faith is tested, either by
did. temptation within us or around us (James 1:1-8).
Your situation may not be raising money for some school fees (maybe it
is), it could be that you have waited several years to be fruitful, or to be in WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU GOING THROUGH AT THE MOMENT? IT CAN BE
a meaningful relationship, perhaps, you are trusting God to bless the work YOUR OWN TESTING TIME.

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Nothing is too difficult for the Lord (Jeremiah. 32:17) The same is true with the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus had faith and believed
and trusted in the supremacy of God, thus he obeyed and submitted to the
God tests every Christian to bring out the best in our relationship with Him WILL of God and shed his blood on the cross, for the salvation of mankind.
and to deepen our convictions about what we believe. But Satan tempts us He is a God who judges sinners. To be saved, one must acknowledge that as a
to bring out the worst in us. We cannot grow in faith by running away from sinner you deserve God’s judgment. Becoming a disciple of Christ breaks the
difficulties and trials because, in them, God sees to it that His children learn barrier, and brings salvation to our lives, and this extends to all who by faith
the lessons of faith. embrace the gospel.

In the school of faith, Christians must experience occasional tests. We will Your Faith must lead you to abandon all trust in yourself, your knowledge,
never know where we are spiritually, until we are tested. your ability or your good works and submit to God’s will and instructions
on faithful and Godly living. And you must trust in Christ’s blood as God’s
Moses faith was tested through obedience to God’s instructions. payment for your sins. God’s word must be applied by faith in the life of a
Abraham had his share of tests by a request from God to offer his covenant son disciple in order to be effective.
Isaac. God’s request, for all intents and purposes sounded very unreasonable
because Isaac was Abraham’s only promised son, and the future of the It is clearly obvious that being a hardworking Jew by birth, was not enough
covenant rested on him. When God asked Abraham to offer his son, He was to save any family from the Destroyer. Any family that failed to heed to
testing Abraham’s faith to know how true and genuine it was. the instruction of sprinkling the blood at door posts, would suffer the
consequences. While Moses’ faith is mentioned in Hebrews 11:28, his faith did
Abraham believed that even if God allowed him to sacrifice Isaac, He could not cover for all of the Jewish homes. Each home had to apply the blood as
raise him from the dead. God had commanded. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short
Most times, when God sends trials or instructions to us, our first response of the glory of God’’
is usually, WHY GOD and then WHY ME. Right away, we want God to offer
explanations. Faith does not demand explanations. Faith obeys God’s word Each person will face God’s impending judgment. Everyone’s faith will be
to the letter. tested by their level of faithfulness, obedience and commitment to the will
of God.
A Christian with no faith asks, HOW CAN I GET OUT OF THIS, while the faithful
asks, WHAT CAN I GET OR MAKE OUT OF THIS. Let’s join Moses by becoming people who overcome trials and tribulations by
faith. Let us endure pains, hardships and enormous challenges by seeing and
To be saved through the Passover blood, Moses and the People of Israel had believing in the unseen God.
faith and obeyed God’s instructions and did what He told them to do. If anyone
had disputed it by saying, “It’s not logical that ordinary sprinkling of blood on PRAYER:
door posts would protect first born son from death,” his son would have died. It 1.For God to strengthen our faith to see beyond our circumstances/challenges.
would not have been enough to say, “I believe,” but not apply the blood. To be 2. For God to add more to the faith of the leaders, so that just like Moses they
saved from the pangs of the destroyer, Moses and the Israelites had to believe can be an example of success for the followers
God’s warning by applying the blood. Beyond just merely sacrificing the lamb,
every detail involved in the Passover ceremony, speaks about Jesus Christ and Further reading: Exodus 12:21-30, Hebrews 12:24, 1Peter1:2, Mathew 26:2,
His sacrifice on the cross. James 2:19, 1 John 2:2,

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he can! Our faithlessness does not stop God’s faithfulness.

DAY 29 FAITH IS THE VICTORY
Action:

Hebrew 11: 29 1. Make a list of your unanswered prayers and pray about them this week.
“By faith the people passed through the Red sea as on dry land; but when the 2. Make another list of some “impossible” exploits you want to achieve this
Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned” year.
3. Reach out today to 10 new people and invite them to your Bible Talk.
The story of God’s great exploit with the Israelites as they journeyed through 4. Pray for God to give you courage.
the wilderness will not be complete without recounting the amazing feat of
their crossing the Red Sea. Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10: 1-13 recounted
this historic feat to remind the Church of God’s faithfulness to Israel and to FAITH AND THE FALL OF JERICHO DAY 30
warn them of the failures that lack of faith will bring about when we take our
eyes off the goal.
Hebrews 11:30
In Exodus 14: 1-31 we read about Pharaoh and his armies bearing down on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
defenseless, tired, hungry, fearful and vulnerable Israelite men, women and Joshua 6:3-20
children. They had nowhere to run to and no weapon to face their adversary. The story of the walls of Jericho falling down, recorded in Joshua 6:3-20, is
Locked in between a fierce and furious Pharaoh with his iron chariots and one that vividly demonstrates the miraculous power of God. But more than
charioteers and the Surging Rea Sea, they allowed fear and panic to take that, the utter destruction of Jericho teaches us several grand truths regarding
control. This gave way to complaints, anger and vicious attacks on Moses. God’s grace and our salvation.
The courage of the people was failing and frustration had set in. What do you
do at a time like this? How do you respond to such difficult and challenging The people of Israel had just crossed over the Jordan River into the land
situations? of Canaan (Joshua 3:14–17). This was the land of milk and honey God had
promised to Abraham over 500 years earlier (Deuteronomy 6:3, 32:49). After
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the spending forty difficult years wandering in the desert of Sinai, the people of
deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will Israel were now on the eastern banks of the Jordan. Their challenge: take the
never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need to only be still” land of Canaan, the Promised Land. However, their first obstacle was the city of
Jericho (Joshua 6:1), an unconquerable, walled city. Excavations there reveal
God hates faithlessness. He provides a way if we do not give up. We see in that its fortifications featured a stone wall 11 feet high and 14 feet wide. At
this encounter how God brought his people through dry ground but drowned its top was a smooth stone slope, angling upward at 35 degrees for 35 feet,
the Egyptians when they pursued the Israelites into the Red Sea. It was an where it joined massive stone walls that towered even higher. It was virtually
unimaginable feat then and now. God is able to do the impossible but he impregnable.
expects us like Moses to be faithful.
In ancient warfare such cities were either taken by assault or surrounded and
Faith is the victory! It is the evidence of our trust in God and his power to the people starved into submission. Its invaders might try to weaken the stone
change our situation. It is not whether God can do it; it is whether we believe walls with fire or by tunneling, or they might simply heap up a mountain of earth

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to serve as a ramp. Each of these methods of assault took weeks or months, graduated only 180 students. I was taught how to depend on God and obey
and the attacking force usually suffered heavy losses. However, the strategy to Him despite the obstacles.
conquer the city of Jericho was unique in two ways. First, the strategy was laid Joshua and the Israelites carried out the commands of God and conquered
out by God Himself, and, second, the strategy was a seemingly foolish plan. Jericho. God gave them victory over an obstacle that was trying to keep them
God simply told Joshua to have the people to march silently around Jericho out of the Promised Land. So it is with us today: God gives us victory over
for six days, and then, after seven circuits on the seventh day, to shout. the obstacles that we face throughout life. Obedience is the clear evidence of
faith. Our faith is the evidence to others that we truly believe in Him.
Though it seemed foolish, Joshua followed God’s instructions to the letter.
When the people did finally shout, the massive walls collapsed instantly, and We can conquer and overcome challenges and be victorious through life by
Israel won an easy victory. In fact, God had given the city of Jericho to them faith.
before they even began to march around its walls (Joshua 6:2, 16). It was when
the people of God, by faith, followed the commands of God that the walls of
Jericho fell down.

There are other key lessons we should learn from this story. First, there is a vast
difference between God’s way and the way of man (Isaiah 55:8–9). Though
militarily it was irrational to assault Jericho in the manner it was done, we must
not question God’s purpose or instructions. We must have faith that God is
who he says he is and will do what he says he will do. (Hebrews 10:23; 11:1)

- Whatever obstacle we are facing as disciples let’s always put God in the
picture.
- God wants us to have faith and believe in him.
- Our faith must go with obedience and work.
- Obstacles help us put our faith in God who can do all things.

During my first start year in school there were internal issues which led to a
compulsory strike. I had to stay without attending lectures for 356 days.

As if that was not enough, 3 months after we resumed, another 6 month strike
commenced. Due to the schools internal issues people started pulling out
which got me discouraged. I told myself, short time or long I would finish from
this institution so I kept on pushing. I kept praying and fasting for God to give
me victory over the obstacles in the University. I had to go through the ups
and downs of the school which taught me how to persevere. After 7 years I
finally finished. My name came out this year which means I am graduating
next year. Meanwhile this is an institution that admitted 300 Students and

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Section 4

By faith the People passed through

the Red Sea as on dry land ; but when
the Egyptians tried to do so, they were
drowned
Hebrews 11: 29

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the king. This is a true conversion in action.

DAY 31 EXONERATED BY FAITH
Rahab’s faith in GOD produced obedience.
In Joshua 2:21b, she obeyed the spies by tying the scarlet on the window. The
Hebrews 11:31 instruction was quite simple and basic and could be overlooked.
Rahab was an idol worshipper, a prostitute and a Canaanite. She belonged to
a group of people who were condemned to judgement by God. What would have happened if she did not do as she was told.
Though she was not the kind of woman to be found in God’s book of faith, Many times, I question simple instructions given to me simply because of how
God extended His grace and mercy to her and her family because of who she such instructions sound or the person they are coming from.
became.
Humility is all that it takes to be obedient. To put my faith to work, I must fight
Her people, the Amorites were idolatrous and wicked. Their worship services to save my family and friends from the coming judgement of God.
were filled with gross immorality and sexual perversion. They also practised
what they called “foundation sacrifices.” When a house was to be built, a child How many of my family members are saved because of me?
would be sacrificed, and its body built into the wall, to bring good luck to the If I am accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to
rest of the family.” convict me?

Think about living in an environment like this, and as bad as it sounds. These Rahab’s family were all saved by the scarlet cord in the window. In the same
evil practices do exist in different forms in our society today. way, all Christians are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. If Rahab’s family had
We also see how God condemned them to judgment in Leviticus 20:2. refused to come into her home, the scarlet cord would not have saved them.
Let’s continue to live faithfully for Christ.
Rahab, though not morally sound, has four great lessons on FAITH for us today.
She believed in GOD.. Rahab’s faith in GOD was rewarded
Joshua 6:20 -25a Rahab and her family were spared of God’s judgement.
In Joshua 2:1-8, Faith comes from knowledge. What Rahab knew and believed Rahab became a part of the nation of Israel and, according to Matthew 1:5,
about the God of the Israelites prompted her faith into action. She showed the Rahab married a Jewish man by the name Salmon, and actually became the
spies kindness and demanded same for her family. great, great grandmother of King David and a relative of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This should give me great level of confidence and boldness to share the word No doubt there were many women in Jericho who were more moral than
powerfully and be radical with my life. Rahab, yet they suffered God’s righteous judgment and went without history.
Like Rahab, I must exercise the faith that will imprint me in God’s Hall of Fame
Rahab’s faith in GOD produced action. of faith.
We know that faith without action is dead, and therefore true faith in God is
always accompanied by good works and desire to please Him. Rahab’s exhibited
this in her quest to see her whole family come under God’s protection and be
saved from God’s judgement by abandoning their fellowship and embraced
that of the Israelites. It was a risk that could have caused her life if found out by

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cumulative to entering heaven yet living double life with unconfessed sins
DAY 32 WE ARE NOT ALONE for years, looking at my status/years of discipleship, considering the shame of
confession - But alas, when i remember my first love as a disciple, i knew i was
not living in faith but just deceiving myself & if I die, I am going nowhere so I
Hebrews 11:32 had to confess and get help and my Faith is alive now..
Let me even talk a little about the faith of these men, hopefully it will impact
your faith in God at this time. John 10:7-10: How about you? Where your faith now and where is it taking you
to? It doesn’t matter where your faith may be now, you’re not alone. Are you
Samson - was destined to rescue Israel from the philistine, but had a strong living life to the fullest? I am in greener pastures ever since I took my faith to
desire for the enemy, to the extent of making one his wife. Eventually he the next level. Don’t allow the thief (Satan) to steal your joy, to kill and destroy
traced his steps to fulfill destiny (Judges 13-16) your faith. God need your faith now.Talk to someone today.

Gideon - Reduced forces to 300 and conquered the midianites as a mighty man
of God but started off with excuses why he could not do Gods will (Judges 6,7) FAITH MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE REAL 1 DAY 33
Barak - Instructed by Deborah to fight battle but doubted Gods command
and eventually lost the victory glory to a woman who is courageous (Judges
4:6- end) Hebrews 11:33
For me this title holds so true. My experiences are full of examples when
Jephthah - driven out by brothers because of illegitimacy but begged by Israel I worried, was sick, despaired, thought all was lost, didn’t see a way out, or
to come fight Ammonites (Judges 11:1-12:7) desired the seemingly unreachable. In many of these instances, God amazed
me by how he came true for me. Sometimes from the unexpected, sometimes
David - youngest son of Jesse, Ancestor of Jesus, Israel greatest & most quickly, sometimes delayed, sometimes different from what I asked. But in
loved king, killed Goliath, lived in the wilderness like a fugitive, sinned with each instance, I saw God’s power at work. My faith, prayers and appeals always
Bathsheba, regularly confessed his sin, wrote 73 psalms, declared a man after paid off. When we want to give up, God rises up.
God’s heart for his reverence for God (1 Sam 16:11-13, 17:1-55,11 Sam 11,12,
1 king 2:1-4, 1 chronicles 11:1-25) Today’s scripture points us to the acts of faith by some of the great heroes
of faith in the Bible. These men, despite being in challenging or seemingly
Samuel - was son of Elkanah & Hannah, his birth, the result of special impossible situations, remained faithful and stood their ground. Their faith
providence, brought up by Eli, anointed by Saul & David as kings, last of the was accompanied by great feats. They made the impossible real. By their faith
judges and first of prophets after Moses, believed to be author of 1 & 11 books they were overcomers. They refused to compromise on righteousness, and
of Samuel. they glorified God with their lives.

These people could have broken the bridge of faith and refused to go on I remember my impossible long drawn battle to quit smoking and quitting
the journey God was taking them; either by circumstance, environment, effortlessly after finding Christ. I remember losing everything and seeing God
complacency, and shortsightedness etc .But they became Heroes of Faith bring everything back, and more. I remember being discouraged about the
today by stepping out in FAITH. fruitlessness of my Bible Talk over an extended period despite our efforts and
I was once like them, always showing up in church/activities as if that is God bringing 3 conversions in 2 months. I remember the countless times I

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refused to compromise in the office, being sidelined for several years, and till we outgrow it on realizing it was intended to be a 90-minute surreal thrill
later being greatly appreciated for what I stood for. My list of faith victories is produced to entertain. Film tricks now attractively called Computer Generated
endless. Imagery (CGI) have always been the means to this fantasy.

What faith victories do you remember? We all have great victory stories to In this curve of the hall of faith verse 34, we read events that could effortlessly
share, but sometimes we forget our past victories, and worry and fret about fit in the part of our consciousness we consider surreal because the world has
the present. We forget who we are in the face of challenges and let our faith aided it greatly and Satan is working hard at it. (Eph 6:16). Skeptics constantly
be shaken. Isaiah 7:9 says - If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not question the veracity of these ‘real facts’ with no proof to the contrary! What a
stand at all. Reflect on this. negated faith!

We should remember always that God wants to give us great victories in As I think about the impossibility of dousing the fury of the flames of passionate
every area of our lives through faith. These great feats of faith we see in the desires that tempt me daily; escaping the sword and lethal ambushes of
Bible can be real in our lives also. Whether it is with our health, finances, jobs, persecutions overt and covert that call my faith to question at work and life;
businesses, school admission, exams, relationship with God, relationship with turning my weaknesses and character flaws to strength and encouragement;
others, marriage, parenting, sin, evangelism and fruitfulness, and so on, God’s winning over those who oppose my faith and seeing them become disciples
desire is that we are victorious in the end. of Jesus, a challenge is raised that I can disregard to my peril or accept and
aspire to by faith.
TO DO:
Meditate and memorize Psalm 144: 1-2, and start appreciating how God We are in no different reality than the ordinary ancients about whom we read.
brings victories to your life. Reflect on and write out as many of your past faith Fantasy requires aloofness and offers an effortless, lazy, and futile hope. Faith
victories as you can, and offer prayers of thanksgiving often. in God requires commitment, trust and hard work but offers hope for this life,
Pray daily for your present challenges and trust God to give you victory like eternity and divinity. Can reality be any more than these?
before.
Challenge: Read Luke 17:1-6. Make that brother or sister yourself! Don’t excuse
or malign yourself. Forgive yourself first then do the same to others!
DAY 34 FAITH MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE REAL 2 Psalm 144:10, 2 Kings 6:16-18, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Acts 16:25-40

Heb. 11:34 A BETTER RESURRECTION DAY 35

Nearly every epic or super hero movie is filled with heroism, valour, courage
and ‘glory’, so they say. To achieve these box office hits, movie producers
distort real life stories and make up all others, introduce natural elements in Hebrews 11:35
unnatural ways, get the super heroes to do the impossible like survive burning Resurrection is the concept of coming back to life after death.
flames, beat light in speed, escape countless ambushes, get weak on probably This devotional topic suggests that there are 2 types of resurrections.
kryptonite and bounce back to rout the evil lord and his cohorts. Hebrews 11:35 where this term occurs in NIV and KJV both talk of a better
resurrection but the New Living Translation and the English Standard both
We get hooked on the idea of being able to do that someday from infancy allude to rising to a better life.

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The latter translations form the focus of this devotional since they serve to 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
assuage the inner insecurities of man – what happens after we die? On the last day, the disciples that have died will be raised from the dead
Have you wondered what would happen to you when you die? The resurrected disciples and the living ones will shed our perishable bodies
Some claim that death is final – no more existence, no more consciousness – and become immortal – no more sickness, no more pain, no more death. This
the end. is solace for disciples with terminal diseases, disciples in extreme deprivations
Others claim from accounts of “near death” experiences that they seem to be
entering a warm intense glow, or that they would meet their departed loved This means that living the life of a disciple is not in vain. This is a better
ones. resurrection. How do friends and relatives become part of this better
So why do we believe in resurrection? resurrection?
Jesus himself underwent resurrection
Romans 6:1-4
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 At the point of baptism, a person undergoes death (to sin), burial (immersion
Jesus died for our sins and was buried in water) and resurrection (up out of the water) and starts a new life
On the 3rd day, he rose up from the dead So new life guaranteed for Christians while living and even after death
The resurrection of Christ connotes victory over death; it connotes victory
over sin, it connotes the deity and permanence of Christ
FAITH: HUMILIATION AND PAIN DAY 36
There are biblical instances of people being raised from the dead:
1 Kings 17:22-24
Old Testament miracle of resurrection through Prophet Elijah
Elijah showed empathy and love towards the grief of his friends Hebrews 11:36
The miracle accentuated the belief among witnesses in the power of God to It was a bright Tuesday afternoon, and the staff meeting had just ended. The
do the impossible atmosphere was buzzing with so much excitement and fellowship after some
faith inspiring victory sharing and lessons. Barely a year before, my wife and I
John 11:40-45 had just returned to Lagos from the mission field, victorious and full of dreams
New Testament miracle of resurrection by Jesus Christ to take things higher. Dreams are drivers, and in the mission field, you are
Christ showed empathy and love towards the grief of his friends and relatives never short of them. We had come to Lagos to renew our faith and refresh our
of Lazarus. Once again, the miracle accentuated the belief among witnesses in dreams, and the experience so far though not without its struggles had been
the power of God to do the impossible so good.
Now returning to the focus of this devotional – resurrection leading to a better
life On this fateful day, we got the shocker of our lives. We were to step down as
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 evangelist and women’s ministry leader for family reasons. Emotionally, we
Jesus died and rose again were shattered, distraught, confused, and years after, traumatized and pained.
In like manner God will raise up disciples that die
Is this not encouraging? So, no grieving when disciples die How does one move on after such a sudden end? How does one pick up again?
We need not fear death since after you die, God will raise you up
What manner of Resurrection? Gen. 37:2-36
Joseph had God-inspired dream that would change his life and that of his

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family from grass to grace, sojourners to territory owners, with him at the black-clad, masked executors behind each of them. Who can easily forget the
center – kingdom ruler. Wow, what a positive and wonderful horizon to life. brutal killings of Christians by ISIS in Libya, Syria, Iraq and many other parts of
But this story is about to change (verse18-20); and in verses 28 and 38, they the Middle East? These mindless and barbaric executions devastated families
sold him to slavery. What became of the dream, the aspiration and desire? and shocked the whole world.
How would Joseph move on? Gen. 39:11-20. Though the situation got worse;
Joseph’s attitude was that of surrender. In this low moment of life, spanning For centuries, many followers of Christ have paid a high price for their beliefs;
seventeen years, he committed himself to God. In the throes of frustration that many were martyred for their faith. The Bible is full of examples of godly
could engender withdrawal and depression, he focused on God. Note how people who suffered and were persecuted for their convictions. Zechariah
many times the phrase “the Lord was with Joseph…” in the whole of Gen. 39 was stoned to death for calling people to account for their sins. In the time
(read). Joseph could have been bitter but fought for righteousness with faith of Elijah, prophets were put to death because of their zeal for God. Countless
in God. men and women of faith were threatened with death; some were severely
mistreated and tortured while others were killed.
For my wife and I, this was the same kind of road we had to walk for about
eight years. We moved from regional leaders to not qualify to even lead a Sadly, we live in a world filled with evil and wickedness. Having great faith
Bible Talk. This remained the lowest point of our spiritual life. We moved from does not guarantee a hassle-free life. Being a Christian does not exempt you
average income earner to living below poverty line. By His grace, we struggled and me from pain, abuse, rejection, ridicule, suffering, sorrow or even death.
but fought hard for the survival of our faith and family with a focus on God. When suffering happens in your life, do you find yourself asking “Why me?”
Genesis 41:1-52. Does it feel as if God has deserted you, and perhaps, forgotten you? Do you
question God for allowing pain and hardship in your life?
The journey of life can be rough. Joseph, in spite of the odds, walked faithfully
and God raised him to become the next in command to Pharaoh, King of Rather than asking “Why me?” We should be asking “Why not me?” If we expect
Egypt. The dream was fulfilled and in Gen. 42:6, his family bowed down to him. pain, suffering and hardship as part of life in this world, we will not be shocked
His attitude all along is summed up in Gen.45:1-7. He saw God as the architect and unprepared when it happens (1 Peter 4:12-19). In times of pain, we can
of his life, not man. take comfort in the knowledge that God is sovereign and is in control of the
affairs of the universe.
In my story, I came back into the full-time ministry nine years later and recently
appointed as elder to serve his Church. God understands our weaknesses, pains, fears and disappointments; he will
Walk faithfully with God, He will work out your life! not let us suffer or be tempted more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Dan. 6 Jer. 20:2, Gen. 39:20-21, Jer. 37:15-21, 2 Chr. 36:16 God can relate with our weaknesses (Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:14-16). He
has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews
13:5b). He is constantly interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 7:24-25).
DAY 37 FAITH: A HIGH PRICE TO PAY
Persecution, trials and sufferings should draw us nearer to God. We can
confidently trust him to get us out of the situation.
Hebrews 11:37
2Chronicles 24:21, 1Kings 19:10, James 5:10-11, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13.
This passage brings to mind images of men dressed in orange jump suits with

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DAY 38 WORTHY OF BETTER PLACE THE PROMISE DAY 39

Hebrews 11:38 Hebrews 11:39

Teachers in Africa are examples of unsung heroes. With little available I made a promise to myself when I signed up to be a contributor to this year’s
resources, they have managed to produce renowned people who have devotional that I would make effort to finish my write-up and submit within
blessed the world. Qatar is hosting the FIFA world cup in 2022. Some poor the allotted time. It would be nice for me to say that I fulfilled this promise I
immigrants doing the construction job have lost their lives in active service. made to myself, this however - is not the case (sad to say). Today is one day
Come 2022, nothing will be said about these fallen heroes. after the deadline for submission and I am still battling with my thoughts.

I have seen something akin to the scenario mentioned above in the bible. Promises are easy to make, probably because they don’t require immediate
Men and women of faith who often put their lives on the line did not get the fulfillment. It is a verbal commitment which we make to one another or self,
attention they deserved. They were harmless, peace-loving, full of integrity, agreeing to do or not to do something in the future. It is the commitment one
law abiding, and godly. As honorable as they were, they wandered the earth spouse makes to the other when they say to each other “till death do us part”.
destitute and perhaps like fugitives. The greatest of these heroes was Jesus It is made when a friend says to the other “NOTHING will come between our
who often did not have a place to sleep (Luke9:58) friendship. It will stand the test of time”. It is made when the politician - before
he is voted into office - pledges to turn things around for the good of the
John 1:10-12 masses whose votes he seeks. It is made during cost-counting - before baptism
This scripture above connects with the creation story in Genesis 1. The most - when we pledge to live and die (if need be) for Jesus - as ‘LORD’ over our lives
important personality in human history was not recognized by the world. - and that we would not give up on this race called discipleship -come what
To make matters worse, even the Jews (Jesus people) did not give him the may- till death takes us home. And I am sure that you - reading this devotional
recognition he deserved. right now - has made one or more promises either to self or someone else this
Jesus was a great King, who laid aside his majesty, took up willingly the project year. It could be a promise to be more devoted to God this year, to grow in a
of saving mankind. The world was blind not to see the anointed one of God. character weakness, to lose weight, to help someone in need, etc.
Instead, they ganged up against him and killed him.
This attitude is displayed in many areas of life. When plants produce a great Promise in itself is a good thing because it gives ground for feeling hopeful
harvest, the glory goes to fertilizer and technological development, we forget about the future. The problem with human promise though is that it is more
to praise the Lord of the harvest. often than not broken due in largely to the fallibility and inconsistency of
How many of us still remember the late evangelist Wole Adegbola who gave human nature.
his all to the service of the Lord and was gunned down in cold blood years ago
in Lagos? A man like him deserves a better place in the history of the ICOC Thankfully, God is not like us humans! Borrowing from the words of Balaam
Nigeria. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor son of man, that He should change
Let us identify with disciples in war-threatened zones who are striving to His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”
please God even with the constant threat of death. Let us look at some of our Numbers 23:19. NIV. (FAST FORWARD!).
leaders in the West African Churches. They have sacrificed for the gospel. Let As I sat patiently - pondering on the best way to put my thoughts together
us be praying for them and spur them to keep pressing forward in faith. - how to begin, what to write, how to write it, what grammar to use, tenses,

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etc., my mind swirled and churned up all kinds of differing and incoherent
perspectives. After sitting for close to four plus hours with no idea of how
to make it all come together I turned - in frustration - to God in prayer. As I
prayed and poured out my frustration - asking God to help me, I reminded
Him what Jesus said in Mathew 7:7-8’, that I should ask, seek and knock and
it shall be given to me (paraphrased). That was when it dawned on me - that
I was actually laying claim to one of God’s many promises in His Word - the
Bible. And you know what? God answered! My thoughts aligned - clear and
coherent, and words began to flow out of me. All I did to receive was offer up
a little prayer in faith, and God - Who promises and never fails - answered my
prayers.

As I read through this - eleventh chapter - of the Book of Hebrews, I am amazed

and inspired once again by the stories of great exploits and courageous acts of
men and women who lived - thousands of years ago - by raw faith - motivated
and inspired by God’s presence and promises. The interesting thing worthy of
note in this verse is that some of these great men and women of faith did not
receive the fulfillment of some of God’s promises to them and their ancestors
during their lifetime. Not all made it out alive from Egypt – en route to the
promised land, not all who left Egypt alive made it into the promised land,
and not all were alive when the promised Messiah was born in Bethlehem in
the land of Judiah, etc. Yet they all had one thing in common - they walked
with God and, by faith, believed that He would fulfill what He had promised.
‘
The question I ask myself - which I would like you to ask yourself also - is, ‘how ‘‘ God has come true in many ways - in keeping with
many of God’s promises have come true in my life? To be honest, many have
come true, and I believe you acknowledge the same too. God has come true His promise to us who love Him. Jesus said that we
in many ways - in keeping with His promise to us who love Him. Jesus said would go through many troubles before we enter the
that we would go through many troubles before we enter the Kingdom, but
promised that we would overcome - if we hold on to our faith - because He
Kingdom, but promised that we would overcome - if we
has overcome the world. I have gone through many trials - intense sometimes hold on to our faith .....’’
- (and I know you have too) - and we overcame. More are still on the way,
and we shall overcome - if we hold unswervingly to our faith - because He
promised that we will not be alone in our struggles and suffering, and we are
not! He sent us His Holy Spirit - to be our help and comforter.

The great men and women of old did great exploits for God because of their

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faith in God’s promises. As we remember God’s promise of eternal home for us No matter what plans have fallen through for us, or come through even, God
who believe, let us resolve deep in our hearts to ‘Match Forward with Faith’ this always, always has a better plan. So, let us not be moved by all that is going
year and beyond, doing great exploits with God and for God, and also working on around us.
out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Does this mean we should not plan for the future? Absolutely not! Pr. 16:3; Ps.
37:5 – 6
DAY 40 GOD HAS A BETTER PLAN
God’s ultimate plan is to have us spend eternity with him. What’s yours?

Hebrews 11:40
Romans 3: 25 – 26
Plan - /noun/ - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.
Synonyms: scheme, proposal, formula, arrangement, schedule, system,
method, etc.

Have you ever wanted something so badly and come up with your plans and
strategies to make it happen, only for it to fall through? And then a few days,
weeks, months or years down the line, you breathe a sigh of relief for not
getting that same thing? Chew on that for a while and then skip to Jeremiah
29: 11.

I am so grateful that I have a God who has plans for me. And we all know
what it takes to make a plan. It is a deliberate, intentional and thoughtful act,
culminating in action! God, in the grand scheme of the universe, makes time
to make plans concerning me. And these are not puny plans.

God says his plans will prosper and not harm us. I know sometimes I feel like
asking, ‘Really?’ (Remember those plans that fell through?). Each time, God’s
plan for my life has proven to be so much better than anything I could have
come up with. This happened on both personal and professional levels. Why?
Because God sees the beginning from the end.

Let’s look at examples from the Bible of God having a better plan:
Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves for covering – God clothed them fully
The Israelites were willing to go back to Egypt – God took them to the promised
land Gideon thought he would win with thousands – God gave him victory
with 300. The world on a highway to destruction – God gave us His only son.

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The 7th Edition of the 40 Days devotional has the theme forward by faith.
This theme inspired the four sub themes in the booklet

The content of this years Power Series was inspired by the Forward by faith
concept and the content of Hebrews 11. Forty Daily devotionals were written
using the content of each verse in Hebrews 11.

Having everything in life doesn’t last. Life is never perfect. We go through

storms. Sometimes we may ask why do bad things have to happen? God why?
Never doubt during the trials and tribulations. Just trust God and lean on him.
Spend time in prayer and his word. Invest in your faith now and through life
storms. This years booklet is designed to help you.

40 Days Devotional Booklet © 2018 Edition ICOC NIgeria Plot 1 Otunba Jobifele
Way Central Business District, Alausa. Ikeja, Lagos. P.O. Box 52088, Falomo,Ikoyi,
Lagos. [email protected]

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be duplicated,copied,translate,r

eproduced or stored mechanically or electronically,without specific,written
permission of the International Church of CHRIST, Nigeria.

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