Month: August 2023

Date: Thursday, 31^st August, 2023

Title: The Deceitfulness of Riches

Text: Mark 12:41-44

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

It is not a sin to be rich but it is a sin to allow your riches separate you from God. In such a situation the wealth or riches have become an idol called Mammon. It is idolatry to choose your riches above the One who provided them. You cannot serve both God and Mammon. Matthew 6:24. This is why Christ said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:21-24

Riches can be deceitful. The problem with majority of the rich and wealthy is that they find it extremely difficult to remove their trust from their riches and place it on God. They allow the deceitfulness of riches, the cares of this world and the lust of many other things to enter their hearts and choke the love of God. But the word of God warns, “Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Psalm 62:10.

The fact that you are rich does not mean you are special in the eyes of God or approved by Him. And the fact that you are not rich does not indicate that you are under a curse or disapproved by God.

The poor widow in today’s text who gave only two mites (together worth a quadran, the lowest Roman coin) was more approved in the eyes of God than the rich who gave large offerings out of their abundance, because she gave her all. Mark 12:41-44

Don’t be deceived; what God requires is a heart full of love, faith and hope in Him, irrespective of your financial or social status.

The Psalmist said, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” Psalm 20:7-8.

Reflective Nugget: Don’t be deceived; what God requires is a heart full of love, faith and hope in Him, irrespective of your financial or social status.

Date: Wednesday, 30^th August, 2023

Text: Mark 9:43-48

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

It is very important to have a balanced view of God. Jesus Christ came to the world as a humble Lamb meant for global sacrifice; but He is also the fierce Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He came as a suffering servant but He is also the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He brought the Water of Life but He is also the Consuming Fire- Hebrews 12:29.

Psalm 97:3 says, “A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.” The Greek word translated as Hell is Gehenna, a place reserved for the disobedient and the enemies of God.

Hell is real because the Lord Himself said so. He preached more about Hell than Heaven for the sake of emphasis and to warn all of us about the danger of ending there. Christ was the only one in the Bible who described Hell in graphic details and vivid terms.

Jesus Christ warned, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

Hell is a place of torment. According to today’s text, the fire is unquenchable and the worms from the bodies of the damned do not die. The road to Hell is very wide, allowing all sorts of character and behaviour; anything goes except the love of God and obedience to His word.

Our Lord Jesus Christ also warned^{, “}And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:47-48

Another name for Hell is “Outer Darkness” where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:30.

There is no repentance there; prayers cannot be answered there. God’s mercy and grace do not operate there. There is no opportunity to be released or return from there even to warn loved ones. Luke 16:19-31.

Escape for your life TODAY by repenting from your sins and accepting the salvation offered by Jesus Christ and live the rest of your life in holiness.

Reflective Nugget: Hell is big enough to contain all the Earth’s inhabitants, if they decide to shun the salvation Christ purchased with His blood for them- Isaiah 5:14. Heaven also has the capacity to contain all the inhabitants of the Earth, if they all choose to embrace the salvation of Christ. John 14:2-3

Date: Tuesday, 29^th August, 2023

Text: Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

In every culture and country of the world there are rewards for good conduct and punishments for bad behaviour. For justice to be served, there are dungeons, cells and prisons where criminals are kept as punishments for their negative deeds. It should, therefore, not be a surprise that God made both Hell/Lake of Fire and Heaven.

God does not force Himself on any man; He has given us our freewill to choose between light and darkness; good and evil being free moral agents. However, there are consequences for all our actions both here and in eternity.

This is why the Preacher said, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 11:9. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.

When Satan and one-third of the angels in Heaven rebelled against God, they were overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of God. Revelation 12:7-12. They lost their place in Heaven and for them is reserved the blackest darkness and everlasting burning.

Jude 1:6 also said, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

Concerning the Judgment Day, Jesus said, the sons and daughters of disobedience will hear the verdict, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41

Even though Hell fire was made for the devil and his demons; all those who live in sin will also end up there because, “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” 1 John 3:8a.

Prophetic Nugget: As you choose the righteous path, may you be found worthy to escape eternal punishment in Jesus name.

Date: Monday, 28^th August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: John 10:10

Exhortation:

Abundance could imply something existing in an extremely plentiful or over sufficient quantity or supply.  The purpose of Christ’s coming to the Earth is to offer the world abundant life. In John 10:10, Jesus said, ^“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Was the Lord referring to abundance of money and other material possessions? Luke 12:15 helps to clarify that, ^“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Therefore, the abundance Christ referred to in today’s text is not physical but spiritual.

Physical riches are great but God is more concerned about our spiritual blessings which are the true riches because they are eternal, lasting beyond our brief stay on Earth. Romans 14:17, says, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

True abundant life consists of an abundance of love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit spelt out in Galatians 5:22-23. We are admonished to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). This implies cutting off every earthly distraction and focusing our time, energy and resources on developing a closer relationship with God, seeking His kingdom and all its righteousness.

Rest assured that all your physical needs (not wants) will be met, while you dedicate your life to heavenly pursuits. Abundant life shall be yours in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: In Jesus name, I cut off from everything robbing me of abundant life.

Date: Sunday, 27^th August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: Ephesians 6:25-27

Exhortation:

The Word of God and Holy Spirit cannot be separated. Anywhere you see the word of God, the Spirit of God is always there and vice versa. In Genesis 1:2-3, the Bible says, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

You can see the Water of Life (the Spirit of God) working together with the words from the mouth of God to produce amazing results- “and there was light.”

Christ said^{, “}It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). Again, here we see that the word of God manifested the Water of Life.

So we are not surprised that the word of God cleanses the heart of a man, just as the Holy Spirit does. This is why the Bible says, ^“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 6: 25-27.

Therefore, the more we expose ourselves to the Word of God, the more we are sanctified and made holy, empowered to live in obedience to Christ, transformed by the renewing of our minds, and are changed into the image of Christ from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Action Nugget: Ensure you wash in the Word of God daily.

GOD’S ORACLE

Date: Saturday, 26^th August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2

Exhortation:

Pollution is said to be the introduction of harmful materials into the physical environment. We live in a world full of pollution be it in the air, on land, in the water or noise pollution. Bodily, it is required that we wash ourselves regularly to keep it clean.

As important as it is to keep physically pure, God is more concerned about the purity of the spirit. Jesus said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:18-20

The Water of the Holy Spirit sanctifies the heart. The word, “Sanctification” comes from two Latin words: sanctus which means ‘holy’, and facere which means, ‘to make’; so to sanctify means ‘to make holy’. The purpose of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is to make us obedient to Christ (1 Peter 1:2). The more obedient you are to Christ, the more sanctified you have become. Anyone living in disobedience is not sanctified yet.

Paul declares, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13). It is the Christian’s responsibility to deliberately work out his salvation with fear and trembling by engaging the regular washing of the Water of Life.

Again Paul says to the Thessalonians, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess 5:23). May this be your portion in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: By the Holy Spirit, I put to death every misdeed of my body in Jesus name.

Date: Friday, 25^th August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: John 16:7;13-15

Exhortation:

Yesterday, we established that the Holy Spirit represents the rivers of living water which was meant to flow from within those that believe in Christ- John 7:38-39.

Imagine what will happen to a fish that tries to live outside water. Suffocation and eventual death definitely will be the result.  A life without the Holy Spirit is full of avoidable crises.

The woman at the well that was met by Jesus Christ in the 4^th Chapter of John was in a terrible marital mess because she was spiritually dehydrated. The Spirit of God was absent in her life, so she missed it maritally. She kept experiencing marital miscarriages because her choices of a spouse were based on trial-and-error, like someone groping in darkness trying to choose among several colours.

One of the functions of the Water of Life, the Holy Spirit is to guide God’s people into all truth and to reveal the future- John 16:13. He is the Helper and Comforter who provides everything needed to make relationships comfortable- John 14:26. All these were lacking in the life of the Samaritan woman and the result was that she kept changing husbands, hoping to get a better one, until she lost 5.

Are you thirsty? The Water of Life will quench every spiritual thirst in you, as long as you will simply take what the Holy Spirit has to offer and follow His leading on a moment-by-moment basis.

Reflective Nugget: A life without the Holy Spirit is full of avoidable crises.

GOD’S ORACLE

Date: Thursday, 24^th August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: John 4:5-30

Exhortation:

All living things on Earth need water. It’s so important that when planet scientists search for life on other planets, the first thing they look for is liquid water.

About 60% of the adult human body is made up of water. Leviticus 17:11 says the life of the flesh is in the blood. Scientists say that, on the average, about 51% of the human blood is made up of water. The basic unit of life, which is the cell is made up of 70% water. Medical professionals confirm that water is vital for the body to function properly. Thus, we can safely conclude that water is essential to life.

In today’s text Jesus Christ met a Samaritan woman who came to the well to draw some water. But the Lord saw that what she needed was far more that physical water and He promised to give her the Water of Life. Her marital life was not settled as she had been married and divorced 5 times and was with a sixth man to whom she was not married.

The 7^th chapter of the Book of John, gave us more insight about the water of life. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” John 7:37-39

The Holy Spirit is the living water needed by the whole world for spiritual survival. Ask the Lord to satisfy your spiritual thirst with the water of life.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, quench my thirst with the Water of Life in Jesus name.

Date: Wednesday, 23^rd August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: John 6:54-57

Exhortation:

When a man is about to die, his last words are usually very weighty and significant. At the time the Lord Jesus Christ was about to depart the Earth in the flesh, He gathered His disciples together, fed them with a spiritual meal and gave them some specific instructions.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 gives details of the event as follows: ‘The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The special meal above is what I refer to as the Meal of Life.

What is the spiritual significance of this meal? In today’s text, Jesus explained, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” John 6:54-57

So you see, by regularly eating the Meal of Life, we stand to benefit eternal life, enjoy the indwelling presence of the Lord and also experience the power of His resurrection on the Last Day. He has commanded that we continually eat this meal as often as we can. And every time we eat it, we are telling others about the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Cultivate the habit of feeding regularly on this Meal of Life. May you not be found wanting in Jesus name.

Reflective Nugget: The flesh of Christ is the real food and His blood is real drink.

Date: Tuesday, 22^nd August, 2023

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Text: John 6:32-35

Exhortation:

Bread connotes food which sustains a man. We need it to satisfy our physical hunger and stay alive. But man is not made of body alone. Man is a spirit who has a soul and dwells in a body. Just as the body regularly needs nourishment so does the soul. So it is unwise to depend only on physical food for survival in this world.

This is why the Bible says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

The word that proceeds from the mouth of God is Jesus Christ Himself. He is God’s Word that was made flesh, and dwelt among us- John 1:14a.

In John 6:35, Jesus said unto the people, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

In order for your soul to be regularly nourished you need to feed on the Bread of Life, which is the word of God. Those who refuse to do this would suffer from spiritual malnourishment and manifest symptoms of deficiencies. Such spiritual symptoms include doubt, unbelief, fear, anxiety, worry, lukewarmness, lethargy, lust, etc

The health and prosperity of your soul should be your top priority. Feed on the Bread of Life today!

Action Nugget: Don’t allow a day to pass without reading, studying and meditating on the word of God.