Month: December 2023

Date: Sunday, 17^th December, 2023

Text: Proverbs 19:11

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

One of the antidotes of unforgiveness is to give allowances for offenses. Never expect too much from people. Understand that offenses will always come and forgive people in advance. Human beings will be humans with their weaknesses and strengths. When you rate people too highly and they cannot live up to your high expectations, you get offended.

In Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs Jesus was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person- John 2:23-25.

A brother once approached another brother in the same church for financial loan, the money was much but the lender’s only money was the rent he was saving up before the due date. The borrower promised Heaven and Earth that he would pay up before the due date. So the innocent brother released the money.

The rent was almost due and the time promised by the borrower came but he was not forth coming. All efforts to get him to pay proved abortive until the church leadership was involved.

Someone once came to me and was seriously pleading for a little financial loan. Though he requested for a loan, in my mind, I was not expecting the payment back. So eventually when he did not pay, I did not ask him and I did not feel offended. He was already forgiven before he even offended; for peace to reign.

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense- Proverbs 19:11. Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends- Proverbs 17:9.

Prophetic Nugget: Receive wisdom and grace to overlook offenses in Jesus name.

Date: Saturday, 16^th December, 2023

Text: Hebrews 12:14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

God is not asking you to forgive because the offender deserves it. Some people don’t even care that they have hurt you, but it is against the nature of God to hold anyone in your heart. The Spirit of God says, “Follow peace with all men”- Hebrews 12:14.

One sign that a wound is healed is that it does not pain you anymore though the scar may still be there. The scar makes you remember the incident but not the pain. “Forgive” does not necessarily mean “forget”, except for someone that suffers from memory loss.

When a woman is in labour, she feels the pains and pangs of childbirth but when the baby is born, the joy makes her “forget” the pain. That ‘forget’ there means the pain is gone, but the memory of the delivery remains fresh for decades.

Therefore, how to know you have truly forgiven someone is how you feel when you see or hear about the person. If you still feel resentment, bitterness, anger, hatred or other ill-feelings, it means the hurt and pain are still fresh; you have not healed and you have not forgiven.

Remember that while we are yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly – Romans 5:6-8. Are you finding it hard to forgive someone? Ask for the grace. Remember also that God forgave you so that you can extend forgiveness to others. It may take a while to build trust in that fellow like before; but let go of the hurt and be free.

Prayer Nugget: Holy Spirit fill my heart with love that overpowers offenses and keeps no record of wrongs in Jesus name.

Date: Friday, 15^th December, 2023

Text: Mark 2:1-12

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Yesterday, we established that unforgiveness can make God reverse his previous blessing of forgiveness. There is a very close relationship between forgiveness and healing. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Again, in Mark 2, a man completely paralyzed was brought to Jesus by four friends. Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” By the time we get to verse 12 of the Mark 2, the paralyzed man already got his healing.

Whenever God forgives, healing follows. If you refuse to forgive and God reverses his blessing of forgiveness in your life, then sickness returns.

So many are sick today because they have refused to forgive; some are biologically barren, others financially barren because they have refused to let go of hurts done against them.

Imagine that you hold someone down because he has offended you; you will discover that as long as you hold him down, even you yourself will not leave that spot. Both of you will be stuck to that spot. You will only be free the moment you set your prisoner free. Ironically, both the warder and the prisoner are stuck in the same prison.

Do you desire healing, deliverance and speedy progress? Then you need to let go of offenses; forgive and be free in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, I ask for the grace to let go of past hurts in Jesus name.

Date: Thursday, 14^th December, 2023

Text: Matthew 18:23-35

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

In today’s text, Jesus told a story to teach the importance of forgiveness and the danger of unforgiveness:

Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants’ accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt.The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

 “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt.  When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”

And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35 (GNB)

To whom much is given, much is expected; to whom much forgiveness is given, much forgiveness is expected. Unforgiveness can make God reverse his previous blessing of forgiveness. Be wise!

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, help me to always extend your forgiveness to others in Jesus name.

Date: Wednesday, 13^th December, 2023

Text: Hebrews 12:14-15

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Unforgiveness is a poison that pollutes your spirit and imprisons you in your past and robs you of the joy of the present. It is dangerous not to let go of the hurts done against you. If care is not taken, unforgiveness can degenerate into bitterness and a willingness to seek revenge. Bitterness makes you caustic, defiles your spirit and distorts your whole view of life. You become suspicious of people and lose valuable relationships.

The Word of God says, we should, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15

When you refuse to forgive, your relationship with God is negatively affected, your prayers are hindered and you open the door for Satan to afflict you. The Word of God says, ^“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

Again God’s word says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Wherever you see unforgiveness, you will see the demon of bitterness, malice, anger, and hatred. Many once blissful homes and friendships have been shattered because of this attitude.

Don’t get stuck in your past, forgive and move on in the joy of the present and the glories of the future.

Action Nugget: Release all those who have offended you today and your life will experience the showers of blessings.

Date: Tuesday, 12^th December, 2023

Text: Psalm 103:1-15

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Forgiveness means to let go. It is to pardon an offender and not treat him as his actions deserve. It is as if someone owes you an amount of money and you decide to cancel the debt. At the root of forgiveness is mercy. A compassionate heart will easily forgive.

Forgiveness is the nature of God. The Psalmist in today’s text say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:2, 3, 8-11.

If you are a child of God, the Spirit of Christ dwells in you and the Holy Spirit is a spirit of forgiveness. It is that spirit that made Christ to pray for his enemies saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Forgiveness may be very hard if you don’t have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you. So first, you need to be forgiven and washed in his blood and you will see reasons why you should forgive those who offend you.

Prayer Nugget: Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with grace to readily forgive in Jesus name.

Date: Monday, 11^th December, 2023

Text: Jeremiah 1:11-12

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

When a Man makes a promise, don’t celebrate yet because he may disappoint, sometimes not because he wants to, but situations beyond his control may prevent him from doing so. But when God speaks it is done. He neither sleeps nor slumbers; if he makes you a promise, he will definitely bring it to pass because he watches over his word to see it come to fulfilment.

There are two things you need to do on your own part; firstly, you need to believe that God will do what he says he will do. The word of God says, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord”- Luke 1:45.Also^, Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Another thing you should do is to remind Him of his promises. Does it mean God can forget what he said? No! He is not a man that suffers from memory loss. But His word says, “Put me in remembrance” and “Give him no rest, till he establishes” his promises in your life (Isaiah 43:26; Jeremiah 62:7).

Worship him intensely, constantly remind him of his wonderful promises and he will hasten his word to come to pass in your life this season in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, bring your promises to speedy fulfilment in my life in Jesus name.

Date: Sunday, 10^th December, 2023

Text: Malachi 2:13-16

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

One thing God expects from your marriage is a godly offspring, all things being equal. Malachi 2:15 says, “Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.”

Dysfunctional marriages will most likely produce dysfunctional children.  A lot of such children joined bad company, get hooked on drugs, and become a burden to themselves and the society. A careful investigation into the lives of the many of such children would reveal that the problems they have is foundational, from the home.  

When you allow Christ to reign in your home and you lead by examples, your children will follow suit. Action speaks louder than words. You are a model to your children whether you realize it or not. If you abuse your spouse or are domestically violent, you are sowing ungodly seeds in your children’s hearts which will yield negative harvest sooner or later.

Let your children grow and be nurtured in a loving, peaceful and joyous atmosphere. It will rub off on them and on their personalities. The opposite is also true.

Some parents think once they are able to provide for their children’s financial, educational and material needs they have done well. What about your children’s spiritual, mental and emotional needs? You need to be available for them. Give them attention. Don’t abandon them in the hands of nannies and domestic helpers. Maintain an open door policy; be friendly and let them be free to express themselves. Answer their questions from time to time. Hug them regularly and make them feel loved and connected to you.

You will not fail over your children in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, I ask for the heart and wisdom to raise godly children in my marriage in Jesus name.

Date: Saturday, 9^th December, 2023

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:2-5

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

One of the purposes of marriage is to prevent sexual impurity. Today’s text says, “But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband.

 The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him. Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:2-5

Sexual intimacy is ordained by God for married couples only. Sex before marriage or outside marriage is a grave sin before God. The word of God says, “^“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”. Hebrews 13:4.

 Do you not know that as a child of God, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?  You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body by fleeing sexual sins.

Sexual immorality is the only sin that unites two people in one flesh (1 Corinthians 6:16). It is a sin that corrupts and ensnares like no other, and it often leads to physical diseases. For these reasons, sexual immorality is a sin committed against one’s own body.

The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body- 1 Corinthians 6:13. Stick to your spouse alone in love!

Prayer Nugget: Father, I ask for the grace of self-discipline; by your Spirit, I keep my body under subjection in Jesus name.

GOD’S ORACLE

Date: Friday, 8^th December, 2023

Text: Matthew 18:18-20

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Your closest confidant and prayer partner should be your spouse. The two of you, in agreement should be able to wield firm spiritual control over situations and circumstances. This is why disagreements must be settled as quickly as possible and must not be allowed to degenerate.

In today’s text, Jesus Christ said, “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. Matthew 18:19, 20, 18

Whatever you loose on Earth means “whatever you allow or permit on Earth” and whatever you bind means “whatever you disallow or reject.” If you permit peace, prosperity, joy and love in your relationship on Earth, it shall also be permitted by God in Heaven. Two of you can also agree to reject failure, poverty, marital unfaithfulness, sickness etc in your home; and they will be rejected by God in Heaven.

The fire of God should regularly burn on your family altar. At this altar you can decide what happens and what does not happen in your family. Allow the will of the Father to always prevail in your relationship and God will personally watch over your home to ensure you will not strike your feet against any stone.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, let your peace, prosperity, joy and love reign supreme in my marriage in Jesus name.