The Old Time Religion (3)

Date: Thursday, 5th June, 2025

Text:  Acts 6:1-7

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

If we must return back to the original glory God reserved for the church, we must learn to identify arrows of distractions shot against her.

As the number of the disciples increased in the early church, the devil wanted to distract the leadership of the church by diverting their focus to major on the minor.

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The devil wanted to use this avenue to steal the unity among the believers.

However, church leadership was sensitive enough to nip the situation in the bud. They carefully appointed seven deacons, men who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom, to handle the matter while they gave their attention to the two principal areas of Prayer and the Ministry Of The Word- Acts 6:1-7.

They remained focused.they majored on the major no wonder their results were great. Today, we are called to repentance from every form of distraction.

We are called to return to the most important things that matter to God.                                                                                                                                                                                       We are called to focus on the undiluted word of God which is required for discipleship. We are called to disciple all nations and not just get them converted. This is the reason why we have too many baby Christians in our churches. They have stayed so long in the church but they have refused to grow because discipleship is lacking.

We are not called to entertain people and get them excited but to ministers the hard truth which is meant to convict sinners and get them converted.

We are not mere motivational speakers who speak with the eloquence or enticing words of man’s wisdom but we are called to demonstrate the raw power of God-1 Corinthians 2:4.  We are called by the Lord Jesus to preach the word with boldness, humility,love and without compromise.We are to preach it when it’s convenient or not- 2 Timothy 4:2.

Key Nugget: We are called to return to the most important things that matter to God.                                                                                                                                                                                        Bible in One Year: Job 39-42

The Old Time Religion (2)

Date: Wednesday, 4th June, 2025

Text:  Acts 2:41-47

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The love and unity that characterized the early church was one of the reasons why God moved in their midst in a glorious manner. The text of today reads, “ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

“And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:41-47

There wasn’t any show of superiority or arrogance in this early church. The strong was willing to help the weak. The false brethren were not able to join them because of fear that they would be exposed just like Ananias and Sapphira who were instantly struck dead by the Holy Spirit- Acts 5.

Their prayers were so powerful that when brethren prayed, fire came down from Heaven and sat on all attendees-Acts 2:1-4; earthquakes rocked entire venues of prayer- Acts 4:31; angels came down from Heaven, prison doors were flung open in the middle of the night and the one who had been condemned to die was miraculously rescued- Acts 12:5-9; jailers were killed instead of a Christian whom they imprisoned – Acts 12:18-19; and in the case of Paul the jailer became born again and was baptized- Acts 16.

Raw miracles and wonders characterized the early church. What has happened to today’s church? Has the Holy Spirit left? No. Has God abandoned his church? No. Then, what is the problem? We need to look inwards and prioritize what the early church prioritized and what God did before he will do again.

Reflective  Nugget: Look inwards and prioritize what the early church prioritized and what God did before he will do again.

Bible in One Year: Job 35-38

The Old Time Religion

Date: Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025

Text:  Habakkuk 3:2

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

A lot of times many folks wonder why the raw demonstration of the move of God and miracles that characterized the early church are not as common now as then. Has God changed? Of course God can never change? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever- Hebrews 13:8

Prophet Habakkuk prayed , saying, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known;in wrath remember mercy.”

Habakkuk 3:2

If you were walking closely with God and all of a sudden you discover that there is a gap between the two of you, who moved? Could it be God that left you or you were the one who strayed away? The answer is obvious because God is ever faithful as long as you remain faithful.

If we can go back to our first love and love God the way the people of old loved him, he will surely repeat the wonders of old and even do more.

These days many of us are too busy with the hustle and bustle of daily life. A lot of distractions here and there. It is even very worse now during this social media era where many cannot stay off their phones for even 5 minutes.

Just like the prodigal son who strayed away from his father’s love and care, let us all return back to the lord in repentance and join Charles D. Tillman in singing the song he composed titled, “Give Me That Old Time Religion”

  Refrain:

“Give me that old time religion,

  Give me that old time religion,

  Give me that old time religion,

  It’s good enough for me.

It was good for Paul and Silas,

It was good for Paul and Silas,

It was good for Paul and Silas,

It’s good enough for me. [Refrain]

Reflective  Nugget: Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

Bible in One Year: Job 25-34

Divine Visitation

Date: Sunday, 1st June, 2025

Text:  Luke 1:26-28

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Happy new month friend! We have survived the first five months of the year by his grace and we will see many more years in his grace and mercy in Jesus name.

In today’s text the word of God says, “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. and the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Luke 1:26-28

In the spirit of this scripture I pray that the Lord will visit you this new month. Just like Mary received the good news in the sixth month, you will be visited by the angel of good news. Helpers of destiny will locate you this month in Jesus name.

Mary was highly favoured by the visit of the angel; this month may the Lord single you out from the crowd and do great things in your life in Jesus name.  Let us pray.

Prayer Nuggets

  1. Eternal Rock of Ages, I worship you for who you are; I adore your holy name in Jesus Name.
  2. Father thank you because you preserved me throughout the first five months of this year.
  3. Thank you Jesus for the grace to see the 6th month of June.
  4. Father, I repent and turn away from every act of unrighteousness in Jesus Name.
  5. Father, please visit me in your uncommon favour this month in Jesus Name.
  6. Father, in this sixth month please, single me out from the crowd and do great things in my life in Jesus name.
  7. Father, please let the angel of good news visit me this month in Jesus Name.
  8.  Add your own prayer nuggets.

Bible in One Year: Job 21-24

Old But Not Obsolete

Date: Saturday, 31st May, 2025

Text:  Psalm 19:7-9

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Our God is the Ancient Of Days. He is older than the oldest but stronger than the strongest. He is not bounded by time. He is ageless and does not change because change is only necessary when improvement is needed. But what of someone or something that has been perfected from the beginning; why will there be need for a change?

Christ  is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending. He sees the end from the beginning. He has seen the future before the beginning began. Therefore, he is not limited by ignorance of the future as men are. Whatever he says takes care of the past, present and future because he is the One who is, who was and who is still to come- Revelation 1:8.

Times and seasons may change; science and technology may be upgraded and improved upon from time to time because they were not perfect from the beginning. Fashion trends come and go. The world and its desires will pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

His word is perfect for all time. No revision necessary. For example, when he says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-38. You can’t have a better instruction. The same old commandment remains relevant as long as the Heaven and Earth exist.

The Spirit of Christ through Apostle John wrote saying, “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.” 1 John 2:7

The Psalmist said, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever”-Psalm 19:7-9.

Reflective Nugget: Don’t be carried away by the fleeting passions of this world. Stick with the word of God which remains unchanging but abides forever.

Bible in One Year: Job 17-20

Old But Not Weak

Date: Friday, 30th May, 2025

Text:  Psalm 12:6

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The fact that something is old means it has stood the test of time. By the original design of God men were meant to be immortal or ageless. It was sin that brought decline in health and strength eventually leading to death.

Take a look at the Sun. the same Sun that shone since the time of Adam is still the same one that shines today. It doesn’t require any upgrade because it is as potent as it was at creation. The Sun is old but not weak. This is one of the wonders of God.

Human inventions lack such powers. Things made by men generally require updates and changes from time to time because they were not perfect from the beginning. As times change, so human inventions have to change because they are of human origin. You can’t compare an electric bulb to the Sun, for example.

The word of God is old but not weak in its potency. It doesn’t require any improvement or upgrade. It’s relevance is not affected by the passage of time.

A young man once looked at the Bible and said he doesn’t believe the words in it because they are old and obsolete. He said he prefers something more recent and new. He erroneously viewed the word of God as a mere human invention which constantly needs revision.

Human inventions are fraught with so many limitations and errors which constantly needs further research and subsequent modifications and improvements. The word of God, however, is like gold which is seven times pure.

In Psalm 12:6, the Psalmist says, “And the words of the Lord are flawless,  like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” Seven is a number signifying completeness or perfection. In other words, the word of God is perfect for all times and seasons from time immemorial and forevermore.

Reflective Nugget : Whatever the word of God says is final. Let God be true in your life and let all men be liars.

Bible in One Year: Job 9-16

Wisdom To Be Holy (4)

Date: Wednesday, 28th May, 2025

Text:  Daniel 6:10-28.

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The Word Of God says, the one with clean hands will grow stronger and stronger- Job 17:9. Strength is therefore a blessing that follows obedience. Those who make God their Secret Place will enjoy unusual protection.

The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead- Proverbs 11:8. A good example was when Daniel was rescued from the lion’s den and all the enemies that conspired against him were devoured in his place. God sent his angels and they shut the mouth of the lions while Daniel was in there.

However, when Daniel was successfully rescued, the angels on assignment were withdrawn to Heaven and the lions were free to devour as many as possible. The enemies of Daniel and their family members became easy food for the hungry lions- Daniel 6:10-28.

Another good example of the holy being rescued and the sinner coming in his stead was when haman planned to destroy mordecai but God allowed the tables to turn against the enemy and the same gallow he built to hand Mordecai was where he was hanged- Esther 7:10.

The Lord has the habit of protecting the holy from all sickness, and he ensures that he does not bring on them any of the dreadful diseases that afflict others but he brings them on all enemies of the righteous- Deuteronomy 7:15

Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.Psalm 34:21

The fear of God is the very beginning of wisdom; to shun evil is understanding- Job 28:28.

Prayer Nugget: Ask God for the grace to consistently live a holy life.

Bible in One Year: Job 5-8

Wisdom To Be Holy (3)

Date: Tuesday, 27th May, 2025

Texts:  Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 25:41-46.

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

If you have the opportunity of meeting the rich man who found himself in the torment of hell,  whose story our Lord Jesus Christ told in Luke 16 and you ask him, “Sir, if you have the privilege to live in this world again, how would you live?”I believe he would say he is determined to live differently, shunning every form of evil . But it was too late! Because  it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.-Hebrews 9:27.

This brings the question up again which says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37

During his life time,  the rich man’s major sin was his self-indulgent misuse of wealth and unconcerned behaviour towards the needs of others, particularly the poor beggar Lazarus. He prioritized his own comfort and lavish lifestyle, neglecting the plight of the needy folks around him.

From his negative treatment of Lazarus, the poor beggar around him,  we can infer that when others around him were hungry he gave them nothing to eat (but crumbs that fell from his table); when they were thirsty he gave them nothing to drink. He wasn’t hospitable to the poor around him but instead allowed his dogs to lick their sores. He neither clothed the poor nor care for the sick. He cared less about those in desperate situations- Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 25:41-46.

The Preacher gave an admonition that “It is better to go to a home where there is mourning than to one where there is a party, because the living should always remind themselves that death is waiting for us all.” Ecclesiastes 7:2

Key Nugget: It is the perfect will of God that we be holy by being selfless and by loving our neighbours as ourselves.

Bible in One Year: Job 1-4

Wisdom To Be Holy (2)

Date: Monday, 26th May, 2025

Text:  Proverbs 23:31-33

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The ordinances and commandments of God are not meant to restrict us from ‘enjoying life’ as some erroneously think. The precepts of God are meant to guide us away from pitfalls that are not immediately realized by the human heart.

A friend of mine shared a personal ugly experience he once had. Before then, he believed there was nothing wrong in being found in certain places that do not represent one’s values. He didn’t realize that doing so may misrepresent you and make others misjudge you.. That was exactly what happened to him.

He had been going to visit friends wherever they chose to hang out including beer palours, though he didn’t drink alcohol, he was comfortable with the environment. One day he was there as usual and all us of sudden a band of policemen stormed the beer joint, in search of a criminal suspect and everybody they met there was arrested.

For the first time in his life he slept overnight in a police cell for an offense he knew nothing about. It was then it dawned on him that he wasn’t supposed to be found in a place which didn’t represent what he stood for.  

There is an adage in Yoruba which says, you shouldn’t smell what you don’t plan to eat. Doing so may trigger your appetite and get you tempted to eat it. Sin may seem pleasurable and harmless at the beginning but the end result is always regrettable.

The word of God says, “Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things.” Proverbs 23:31-33

When the word of God says we should flee from every appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), it could be to protect us from being framed up  into things we know nothing about.

It is indeed wise to live a holy life.

Prayer nugget: Father, I ask for abundant grace to live in holiness all the way in Jesus name.

Bible in One Year: Esther 1-10

Wisdom To Be Holy

Date: Saturday, 24th May, 2025 

Text:  Revelation 21:27

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Holiness is the nature of God and of his Spirit. This is why the Spirit Of God is referred to as the Holy Spirit. So many people see holiness as unattainable. But that is not true. To be holy is to live in total obedience to the Word Of God.

When we live our lives one day at a time, obeying the word of God in any decision we make, every step of the way, we will discover that we are already living holy. If holiness is not possible, God will not say, “Be ye holy for I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16. They say, like father, like son- In other words God is saying , “a lion gives birth to a lion; not a dog; if you are truly my son, then holiness should also be your nature or lifestyle.”

In fact, that is why holiness is a requirement to make it to heaven- without holiness no man shall see the Lord – Hebrews 12:14

The word of God also says, “ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27

It is, however, true that we cannot be holy by our own power or strength but we sure can be holy when we submit ourselves to the management of the Holy Spirit. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to live above sin. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to break free from the stronghold of sin and the flesh.

Do you see any wisdom in gaining the whole whole world, enjoying the pleasures of sin for a while and then spending eternity in everlasting torment? It is in deed wise to be holy.

Reflective Nugget: It is a wise thing to live a holy life.

Bible in One Year: Nehemiah 11-13