The Assurance of Triumph

Date: Saturday, 14th September, 2024

Text: Psalm 34:1-22

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The fact that believers live in a world where there is a predominance sinful men, we are not immune to trouble. God has not promised us a trouble-free life but he has promised to deliver us out of every trouble. An unbeliever does not have the same assurance of deliverance until he runs to Jesus for salvation.

Concerning the righteous, the psalmist said, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34: 5-7

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.” Psalm 34:19-21

The Father will do everything possible to fight for and protect his own. They are the apple of his eyes- (Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8). They are, “A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people; a people called out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9.

He will never ignore their cries when they call. He ensures that the Sun does not smite them by day, nor the Moon by night. He dispatches his holy angels to lift them up in their hands so that they don’t strike their feet against a stone.

If you are not yet living a life of righteousness you have unknowingly given the devil a free licence to afflict you without any hope of deliverance. Be wise and make a U-turn today!

Prayer Nugget: Father, thank you for saving my soul and giving me the assurance of triumph in Jesus name.

Good Report Is Essential (2)

Date: Friday, 13th September, 2024

Text: Acts 6:3

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

When most reputable companies give employees jobs, they do their background checks of the individuals they are employing. In fact they even request for referees and guarantors; some international employers even request for Police Report; just to be sure that they are not dealing with the wrong employee.

There was a case of someone mentioned as one of the newly appointed Deacons in a church. When his name was pronounced there was a serious uproar from the members as they verbally protested against his appointment. On investigating it was learnt that this fellow had defrauded many of the congregants, hence the protest. Out of shame, he was forced to leave that church.

His problem was a lack of good report.

When there was a welfare administration problem in the church Deacons were selected and part of the selection committee’s mandate was to pick, “Seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom….”Acts 6:3. Again concerning the appointment of bishops, the word of God says, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1Timothy 3:7

That been established it is also necessary to understand that the other extreme should be avoided. Some folks turn themselves to pretenders and hypocrites while trying to please men. God is not asking us to pretend to be who we are not in the process of trying to please men. Rather, we should please him first and also have good testimonies in our dealing with others.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, grant me grace to conduct myself wisely in all my dealings in Jesus name.

Good Report Is Essential (1)

Date: Thursday, 12th September, 2024

Text: 1 Samuel 16:14-19

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Nobody exists in isolation. The saying that no man is an island to himself suggests that no one is self-sufficient. We are social beings that interact with and need one another. Whether you realize it or not people are watching you from far and near and they make their inferences and conclusions about your personality. You may either agree or disagree, the truth is that the conclusions they make about you go a long way to determine your future, be it good or bad.

Just like we get report cards from school which determine a lot about our future; people have their unwritten report cards which they carry about in their hearts concerning others around them.

David was just minding his business as a shepherd boy tending his father’s sheep and practising with his harp. Little did he know that people were observing, watching and forming their opinions about him.

The D-day finally came when his report was to speak for him. King Saul was having mental issues because the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. He needed an anointed musician to minister to him; then somebody gave a good report about David. He said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.” 1 Samuel 16:18-19

What a fantastic recommendation! They rolled out his social CV and the king had no option but to employ the services of David, an unknown shepherd boy from the rural village of Bethlehem. He started wining and dining with the king just because somebody recommended him.

Some people say they don’t care what people say about them. You have to care so as to build a good reputation before God and Man.

Action Nugget: People’s opinion about you can make or mar you. Be careful!

It Is For His Glory (3)

Date: Monday, 9th September, 2024

Text: Mark 7: 25-30

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

When God is your only option you leave him with no other choice but to attend to you. But when you have alternative plans he may wait for you to exhaust all your human options before stepping into your case; this is because his glory will not be shared with anybody- Isaiah 42:8

The word of God says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6. This simply means you should put all your eggs in God’s basket. He is reliable and dependable- a Covenant keeping God. He will not allow you to be put to shame.

 In today’s text, a woman, whose daughter had an evil spirit in her, heard about Jesus and came to him at once and fell at his feet. The woman was a Gentile, born in the region of Phoenicia in Syria. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus answered, “Let us first feed the children. It isn’t right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s leftovers!”

So Jesus said to her, “Because of that answer, go back home, where you will find that the demon has gone out of your daughter!” She went home and found her child lying on the bed; the demon had indeed gone out of her- Mark 7: 25-30.

Wait on Him only and your case situation will bring God all the glory in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, I choose to place all my hopes in you; help my unbelief in Jesus name.

It Is For His Glory (2)

Date: Saturday, 7th September, 2024

Text: John 11:1-14; 38-43

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

God never comes late to rescue his own. When there appears to be a delay, God might have allowed it for his own glory. Sometimes he may decide to show up in the nick of time.

When he heard that Lazarus was sick to the point of death, he stayed where he was two more days. But Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4

Lazarus’ family already gave up all hopes and buried him; then Jesus Christ came to the scene. The stone covering the tomb was rolled away and the dead glory was restored.

The reason why Lazarus’ case became so special, striking, and popular is because his resurrection happened four days after burial. The delay of Jesus made the testimony more special. If he had been woken up a few hours after he died, some people would say, “Maybe he just fainted; he did not really die.”

But Christ deliberately waited until his case became “hopeless” so that by the time the miracle took place everybody will know that indeed a mighty miracle had taken place and all the glory went to God.

You may not know but the Lord knows what to do about your case. Your delay is over from today and your situation will not end in shame in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, I trust in you and I believe my situation will bring you glory in Jesus name.

It Is For His Glory

Date: Friday, 6th September, 2024

Text: John 9:1-9

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Most times when people find you in an unpalatable condition they tend to quickly conclude that you must be suffering for the sins you have committed or probably you are reaping the fruits of what you sowed.  This was the conclusion of the natives of the Island of Malta concerning Paul the Apostle.

The apostle had just survived a shipwreck and he and the other passengers on board found themselves on the Island of Malta. It was a rainy day and in order to keep warm, Paul gathered up a bundle of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a snake came out on account of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.

The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul’s hand and said to one another, “This man must be a murderer, but fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire without being harmed at all. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting for a long time and not seeing anything unusual happening to him, they changed their minds and said, “He is a god!” Acts 28:3-6

On a particular occasion, during his earthly ministry Jesus was passing by and he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, ‘neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.’ John 9:1-3

If you are living in obedience and yet you are experiencing attacks, afflictions or difficulties you cannot explain, don’t be discouraged. You are not the only one in that situation and God has not forgotten you. Your case will end in praises.

Continue steadfastly and that situation will strengthen your faith and toughen your spiritual muscles. It is for the glory of God.

Prayer Nugget: Over my situation, father gain all the glory in Jesus name.

Not Our Ways

Date: Thursday, 5th September, 2024

Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

When you receive an instruction from the Lord it may not be sensitive to the human mind. But when you go ahead and obey ‘foolishly’ you will have testimonies.

The word of God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9

Despite his great success on the field, Naaman, a high ranking General in the Syrian army was a leper. His lofty position, wealth, influence and connections could not solve his problem. He must have consulted the best physicians in the land but got no cure. But when God decided to help him, he used a slave girl serving as a maid to his wife.

She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3.if they had despised the advice of the slave maid, the story would have been different.

Eventually when Naaman got to Israel he was asked to dip himself seven times into River Jordan- a river for the common man. He obeyed ‘foolishly’ and his skin was restored like that of a little baby- 2Kings 5:14.

Obedience may sound irrational but if you do your testimonies will astound the world.

Prayer Nugget: Father please, help my unbelief; increase my faith level in Jesus Name.

Storms On Assignment

Date: Wednesday, 4th September, 2024

Text: Jonah 1:1-16

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Many are experiencing storms which have threatened to capsize the boats of their lives. In fact some have lost their cargoes in the process. Unfortunately, many of them don’t even know the genesis of their troubles. They probably think it’s either some enemies without or just natural occurrence.

However, we learn from today’s text that Jonah’s travail started when he left the divine covering of obedience. He had a clear instruction from the Lord but decided to go his own way- for reasons best known to him. Then the storms started.

An average child of God would like to rebuke and still the storms as Christ did in Mark 4:35-41. Christ did that because the storms were the handiwork of the devil. But not all storms are from the evil one.

Jonah’s storms were on assignment from God himself and such storms cannot obey any man. They can only respond to obedience. When requested to be thrown overboard into the sea and God knew Jonah was on his way to fulfilling his original assignment, the storm seized.

Are you passing through storms in your finances, marriage, career and other areas? And you have prayed and prayed against it but it seems things are getting worse instead of better? Why don’t you ask God to open your inner eyes to know the source of the storms? Look inwards and return to the path of obedience.

Your storms will cease in Jesus name.

Action Nugget: Look inwards and return to the path of obedience.

Come Under Divine Covering

Date: Tuesday, 3rd September, 2024

Text: Exodus 12:12-14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Just as God has beautiful plans for your life, the devil also has his own ugly agenda. He moves about like a lion seeking those he may devour. This is why the word of God says you should always redeem the time because the days are evil- Ephesians 5:16.

As you wake up each day arrows fly around in the day and pestilence crawls in the night.  I pray for you that no evil shall befall you and no plague will come near your dwelling in Jesus name.

In today’s text the word of God says, “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” Exodus 12:12-14

As many as stayed under the blood-marked houses, escaped the scourge of the angel of death but those who stayed without the blood were destroyed.

The blood of the animals typifies the Blood of Jesus. It is a blood of covenant for as many as have surrendered to the lordship of Christ. Even today when you are covered by this blood of exemption, evil arrows will pass over you.

If you are living in sin, you are outside the divine covering. Why not run under Divine Covering by surrendering to his lordship today?

Prophetic Nugget: You will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus name.

His Name Is Jealous

Date: Monday, 2nd September, 2024

Text: Exodus 34:14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Jealousy and envy are not the same. You are jealous of what belongs to you. For example a husband may feel jealous when his wife gives the attention due to him to another man. Envy on the other hand is when someone is displeased with what someone else has or has achieved.

God is jealous for his own people because he loves them affectionately. He doesn’t want anything to come between him and his people. Anything else that will compete for his attention in your life is idolatry.

The Lord spoke to the Israelites saying, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” Exodus 20:5

In Exodus 34 vs 14, the word of God says, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

He fights to defend his glory because he will not share it with another.

On a particular occasion king Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.Herod died in such a horrific way because he accepted the glory due to God- Acts 12:18-25.

Beware of sycophants that give you titles that befit the Almighty God alone. Don’t let them put you in trouble with your Maker whose name is Jealous.

Some people share testimonies in such an arrogant and boastful way that you think their testimonies were achieved by their own power.

When you achieve anything and you don’t give praise to God, it simply means that you indirectly affirm that it was achieved by your own wisdom and power. Nebuchadnezzar suffered from 7-year insanity for the same reason. After his recovery he gave praises to God but he had learnt his lessons the hard way- Daniel 4:25-35.

 Reflective Nugget: It is dangerous to arrogate the glory that is due to God to yourself or another. Acknowledge and praise him always.