Month: April 2024

Date: Tuesday, 16^th April, 2024

Text: 2 Kings 5:1-16

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, was highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria, because through Naaman the Lord had given victory to the Syrian forces. He was a great soldier, but he suffered from leprosy, a dreaded skin disease.

In one of their raids against Israel, the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl, who became a servant of Naaman’s wife. One day she said to her mistress, “I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his disease.”

Naaman paid an official visit to Israel in a bid to meet the prophet and get healed.

 When the news reached Elisha, the prophet, he sent a servant out to tell him to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan River, and he would be completely cured of his disease. But Naaman felt insulted and left in anger, saying, “I thought that he would at least come out to me, pray to the Lord his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me!

He would have missed his miracle if not for his servants who went up to him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can’t you just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?” So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child.

His initial reluctance was because the instruction of the prophet was not in line with what he expected. He expected a more dramatic way of deliverance. Many times God may not go the way you expect. But just like Mary, the mother of Jesus told the men at the wedding at the Cana of Galilee when the wine finished, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:1-10. They did and got the miracle of water turning to the best wine ever!

However, beware of false prophets, though. Not all ‘divine’ instructions are divine. Make sure the instructions do not contradict the word of God as spelt out in the Holy Scriptures. For example, any ‘divine’ instruction that says, ‘Divorce your spouse’ or ‘Beat your parents’ is not from God as such clearly contradicts his word.

Prayer Nugget: Father, I ask for the grace to always follow your instructions to the letter in Jesus name.

Date: Monday, 15^th April, 2024

Text: Exodus 23:25-26

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Life expectancy is the number of years a person can expect to live. It varies per population and per country but generally higher in the western world than in Africa. Some researchers calculated it to range from 54 to 68 in most countries on the continent. However, what is the word of God saying concerning this subject?

It is the will of God that we live long.  His word says, “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation”- Psalm 91:16.

He also said, ^“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the number of your days- Exodus 23:25-26.

Initially, man lived up to 969 years old (Methuselah the son of Enoch); then Enoch who lived for only 365 years old was perceived to have died young. Genesis 5:22-27

However, man’s lifespan dropped to about 120 as a result of his constant disobedience. In Genesis 6:3, “The Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years”.

Also, Moses wrote, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures…” Psalm 90:10a.

I pray that you will fulfil your days; you will not die before your time in Jesus name. However, you need to spend your life worshipping the Lord in truth and in Spirit for to Him belongs longevity. Also, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12.  

Prayer Nugget: Father, I ask for the grace to fulfil your purpose for my life on Earth; I will not die untimely in Jesus name

Date: Saturday, 13^th April, 2024

Text: Proverbs 12:1

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The story was told of a man who travelled to another country on an airplane for a conference meeting. He had booked a return ticket with the commercial plane with which he arrived there. However, a fellow whom he met at the conference came on a private jet; he was his own pilot. He persuaded him that they should both return back on his jet. Reluctantly he agreed to accompany him after much persuasion. After boarding the airplane, the passenger compelled both of them to pray together before take-off.

Expectedly, the jet taxied along the tarmac, gained momentum and took off into the air. It was not long after they got into the air that the pilot fell asleep! He did everything to wake him up but he did not respond. Then he became very perplexed and fearful. He was never a pilot and had no idea of any button to press out of all the numerous buttons starring at him in the cockpit.

But in his confused state, he was able to recognize a radio device there and something told him to pick it up and speak into it. He explained how he found himself in a plane with a sleeping pilot; and asked anyone who can help to kindly assist. Fortunately for him some pilots flying on nearby aircrafts heard him and began calling one another for help. Some of them radioed him back and asked him to calm down as they find a way to help him.

Eventually, his case got reported to the nearest control tower. They traced the airplane in question from their end and began monitoring it. Suddenly, the helpless passenger on the plane heard a voice from the radio device. The voice told him that he should calm down and not panic anymore. It assured him that the plane was closely monitored and that they would guide him step by step till he land safely only if he would follow all its instructions.

From time to time, the voice gradually guided him, describing which buttons to press using the colour and shape of each. It warned him ahead of rough terrains in the clouds and encouraged him never to panic when the plane trembled a little. The man followed all instructions religiously and after flying for a while, the voice guided him on how to land the plane safely.

The voice turned out to be that of a veteran pilot stationed at the Control Tower, who has had thousands of hours of flight experience. Ironically, after landing safely, the sleeping pilot woke up!

Instruction saved the passenger’s life. But unfortunately, some people hate instructions. They think instructions will not allow them to be free to live their lives the way they want. Many people die untimely simply because they hate instructions.

If a man’s instructions can save a life, how much more will divine instructions save life eternally?

Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.”

Prophetic Nugget: Receive grace to follow divine instructions in Jesus name.

Date: Friday, 12^th April, 2024

Text: Genesis 1:31

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

From the beginning everything that God made was very good. There was no error in all his creation. All his works were perfect. Genesis 1:31a says, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows- James 1:17

There was no sickness, no lack, no pain, no sorrow, no death, no fear, no worries, no anxieties and every other thing that plague the world today. But while men slept (in disobedience), His enemy (devil) came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Whatever you are going through now that does not conform to God’s original plan is not His will. Don’t accept it! Don’t accept that sickness! Refuse to agree with that poverty. Don’t settle for that failure!

Humble yourself and go back to the Author and Creator. Jesus Christ fixed Malchus’ cut ear without surgery- Luke 22:50-51; John 18:10. The Lord is ready and willing to make right what has been made wrong by the devil.. He will undo the concluded works of darkness; he will expose the hidden strangers of sickness and affliction; the Lord will reverse the irreversible in your life and grant you a brand new beginning in Jesus name

Prayer Nugget: Father, please expose the hidden works of the enemy in my life and reverse the irreversible in my life in Jesus name.

Date: Wednesday, 10^th April, 2024

Text: 1 Kings 2:36-46

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Not all battles are worth fighting. One of the greatest nations of the world is reputed for counting the cost of a war before embarking on it. If the benefits of the war outweigh their investment on it, they would go for it; otherwise they wouldn’t.

In today’s text, we see a man named Shimei. Due to his past acts of insubordination and treason under the out gone King David; the new king Solomon placed him under a permanent travel ban- as a form of punishment. His movement was restricted to Jerusalem. He complied with the ban for three years and then something happened to test his level of compliance.

Two of his slaves ran away- outside Jerusalem. Instead of him to count the cost of pursuing them and either let go of them or delegate a search party to look for them, he saddled his donkey and personally went all the way in search of them. Did he get them back? Yes he did! But it eventually cost him his life because the king was informed of his contravention of the ban and the sword of judgement landed on him.

So after Shimei’s execution, what do you think would happen to the slaves he went to recover back? They would most likely escape again. So the battle of gaining the run-away slaves back was not worth it after all.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, ““Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.” Luke 14:28-32

Action Nugget: Don’t be hasty in spirit, but count the cost of all actions before taking them.

Date: Tuesday, 9^th April, 2024

Text: 1 Samuel 16:18

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

David’s men were ordinary men who identified a mentor and coach in him. They saw certain qualities in David that endeared him to them. Concerning David, one of Saul’s officials said,  “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”  1 Samuel 16:18

The Lord was with him because he himself was a passionate lover of God. This made God to pour his anointing heavily on him. The word of God says, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.” Hebrews 1:9. The anointing on David’s life was strong enough to kill lions, bears and even slay giants. He never lost a single battle.

These sterling characteristics made them stick around him emulating him and walking in his steps. Ordinary became extraordinary. This same anointing eventually rubbed off on them.

There are still many Davids in the world today who are great transformational leaders; those with whom your life would be transformed if you associate with them. There is no height you want to attain that someone has else has not reached. There is nothing you want to achieve that someone else has not achieved. Therefore, if you desire to move from zero to hero, firstly you need to identify your David and learn of him.

Stick around them, if possible; listen to their sermons and speeches; read their books, attend their seminars and conferences; apply their godly principles; you will watch yourself grow from a nobody to a somebody in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, take me from zero to hero in Jesus name.

Date: Monday, 8^th April, 2024

Text: 1 Samuel 22:1-2

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

After his popular victory over Goliath, David’s life attracted serious persecution. Out of envy, King Saul began to attack him with the aim of eliminating him.

He was in great distress and he was running from pillar to post. At a point he escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him-1 Samuel 22:1-2.

He was surrounded by men who have been frustrated in life but he began to infect them with his glorious vision. Instead of criticizing them, he began to infuse them with his character and work ethics. David became their coach as he trained them in military strategies and tactics. His fear and love for God were infectious. His leadership skills gradually transformed the men.

David succeeded in purifying the ‘crude oil’ in them. He made them realize that they were not failures in life. Each of them gradually discovered his potentials and maximized them.

When David eventually became king, they formed a bulk of his army and did glorious exploits.

By the time we get to 2 Samuel 23, those who had been regarded as failures had become David’s mighty men. One of them could raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. They were warriors that could kill giants like their master, David.

I don’t know what situation you are in right now; don’t give in. You can still be your best, God being on your side.

Prophetic Nugget: Your current situation is not the end. Dust yourself up; rise and shine in Jesus name.

Date: Saturday, 6^th April, 2024

Text: Psalm 137:7-12

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Omnipresence connotes being present everywhere at the same time. The devil moves to and fro the Earth but he is not omnipresent. He can’t be everywhere at the same time.

The Omnipresent God is everywhere at once. This is why the Psalmist said, “Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 137:7-12

Jonah seemed not to understand this aspect of God but he learnt his lessons in a hard way. The word of the Lord came to him saying ^“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.” Jonah 1:1-4

Many people are passing through avoidable storms of life because they are trying to hide their sins from God. It is like someone trying to hide from his shadow.

Why not confess your sins and forsake them so that the times of refreshing can come from the Father?

Prayer Nugget: Father, I cannot hide from your presence! I repent today and confess my sins. Please, have mercy on me in Jesus name.

Date: Wednesday, 3^rd April, 2024

Text: Jeremiah 32:26-27

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

At a particular time, the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:26-27.

My father-in-the Lord, Pastor E A Adeboye once narrated a barren woman’s experience. This woman, due to her past way of life had gotten her womb removed via surgery. But when she later got married, she started trusting God for the fruit of the womb. She began to attend special prayer meetings meant for the barren. After a while all the barren women in that meeting conceived except this lady.

Her pastor was worried and one day asked her what could be the reason for her own unusual delay; then she confessed that she had no womb. The pastor was disappointed and angry, saying, ‘Why did you waste my time praying for the fruit of the womb when you don’t even have a womb?’And from that day onwards, the man of God started dodging her.

When she noticed that her pastor was stylishly avoiding her, she made up her mind to seek God’s face directly. She began to pray and cried to God for mercy. One day she had a dream in which she saw a very huge spiritual personality approached her and wrapped her waist with something that looked like an animal skin; she woke up sweating.

After that encounter she noticed that her menstrual flow returned and not too long she conceived. The medical doctor who removed her womb (at the University College Hospital, Ibadan) was shocked to see another womb in the woman.

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:26 is very true. It says, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Action Nugget: Do you find yourself in an impossible situation? Just exercise your faith, cry to the All-Powerful God and your case will be settled in Jesus name

Date: Tuesday, 2^nd April, 2024

Text: Mark 19:14-29

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Apart from God being All-Knowing (Omniscient), he is also All-Powerful (Omnipotent).

With Men so many things are impossible because man is mortal and highly limited in many areas. Man has developed Science and Technology which have made life very easy in so many aspects; however, even these have serious limitations.

For example medical scans can effectively capture images of body tissues, organs and systems; thus assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases; microscopes can detect germs that cannot be seen by the naked eyes; there are several other medical equipment that aid in the diagnosis of diseases; however, none of these can detect the presence of demons- which are the real culprits behind thousands of diseases, afflictions and sicknesses.

This explains the reason why so many ailments are beyond the scope of medical science. This also tells us why there are so many cases of terminal diseases and incurable sicknesses.

In today’s text Jesus cured an epileptic child who was also deaf and dumb was brought to Jesus; all he did was to speak a word and the demons tormenting the boy left immediately-Mark 19:14-29.

Prophetic Nugget: May the All-Powerful God deliver you from every disease in Jesus name.