The Man of War (1)

Date: Friday, 23rd February, 2024 

Text: Revelation 12:7-9;11-12.

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

War did not originate from the Earth, but it started right from Heaven. The war has continued on Earth because the author of the heavenly war has been forcefully relocated to the Earth.

The Bible says, “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him.”

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time”- Revelation 12:7-9;11-12.

Today, against their wishes, many find it very difficult to do the will of God and they can’t explain why. The truth is there are forces beyond the scope of human control. You have to engage spiritual weapons the enemy cannot handle.

Are you confronted with battles in the area of health, finances, marriage, parenting, career, academics etc? God dwells in unapproachable light. His word is light. The light is a weapon that automatically drives out darkness. Engage the power of His light today and record your victory over the contending forces of darkness- John 1:1-5; 1Timothy 6:16.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, grant me victory over every force contending with my life and destiny in Jesus name.

Put No Confidence in Princes

Date: Thursday, 22nd February, 2024

Text: Psalm 146:3-6

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

There is a saying that your network is your net worth, meaning that the social connections you have and the relationships you build with others can have a direct impact on your financial success and overall wealth. While this is true on the surface, if God does not place your help in someone’s hands, no matter how close, you are to him, he may not remember to help you. This has led many into frustration.

The Psalmist said, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2. Your help does not come from abroad but from above.

Man may even have a genuine intention of helping you but could fail for reasons beyond his control. But our God can never fail because everything on Earth, beneath the Earth and in the Heavens above and Hell below are under his control.

He rules in the affairs of Men. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” This implies that the Lord controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream. If anybody succeeds in helping you, give praise and glory to God because he alone put your favour in his eyes. Never give credit to your intelligence.

Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever” Psalm 146:3-6

Action Nugget: Look up to the One who cannot fail and you will never be disappointed in Jesus name.

Keep His Will

Date: Wednesday, 21st February, 2024

Text: Hebrews 9:15-28.

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Another word for covenant is testament. Testament is the official or legal will of a man on how he wants his property shared or allocated after his demise. The word of God is his approved Will for Mankind.

Wills are put into effect after the death of the testator (or owner of the will). The Old Will was sealed with the blood of animals but the revised, better, superior or New Will of God is sealed with the precious and everlasting blood of Jesus- Hebrews 9:15-28.

The Old Will is the shadow of the New; while the New Will is the fulfillment of the Old Will of God.

In that New Will Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3

In that same Will Christ said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’- Matthew 7:21-23

May you not be found wanting in living according to the Will of God in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: As from today, I will be found blameless in keeping the Will of God in Jesus name.

The Covenant of Peace

Date: Tuesday, 20th February, 2024

Text: Numbers 25:1-18

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Peace is what the whole world desperately seeks all over. Its absence is what is responsible for wars and rumours of wars. When peace is missing, there comes suspicion, animosity, rancour, bitterness, hatred, fighting, murder, genocide etc. Between God and Man, peace was lost from the very beginning when Man fell.

According to today’s text, while Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to an idol called the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

God’s anger had immediately led to an epidemic breakout which consumed 24,000 Israelites. While this was going on God instructed Moses, their leader to command the Isrealite judges to destroy all those involved in this immorality so that peace can be restored. Many Israelites mourned and wept at this evil development but not all of them.

Worthy of note was a priest called Phinehas whose zeal for God put a stop to the plague. He loved what God loved and hated what God hated. God made a Covenant of Peace with him, he and his descendants are permanently established as priests, because he did not tolerate any rivals with God and brought about forgiveness for the people’s sin.

You too can actually enjoy God’s peace like a river throughout your lifetime and even pass that peace to your generations yet unborn. All you need to do is to love what God loves and hate what God hates. Live, eat, breathe and thrive in obedience to His will and word.

The word of God says, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20-21

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, help me to always love what you love and hate what you hate in Jesus name.

Agree to the Covenant

Date: Monday, 19th February, 2024

Text: Amos 3:3

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

For you to enjoy the blessings of God’s covenant you must walk closely with Him.

The song writer says,

“When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way;
 while we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.

“In fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way; what He says we will do; where He sends, we will go; we will never fear, only trust and obey.”

Some people want to enjoy the blessings of Abraham but are not ready walk with the God of Abraham. Prophet Amos asked in today’s text, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. Of course not! Two cannot walk together except they be agreed.  In the case of God’s covenant, to agree means to submit yourself to God and to resist the devil.

To agree is to submit your will to the will of God. It is to say, with your actions, ‘Not my will, but thy will be done’

To agree is to put the flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit. To put the flesh under is to crucify and be dead to it and its accompanying passion.

Prophetic Nugget: Receive grace to agree to the terms of the covenant and enjoy the blessings thereof in Jesus name.

Fulfill the Covenant

Date: Sunday, 18th February, 2024

Text: Genesis 17:1-2

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

God is a Covenant-keeping God. He loves to make covenant (solemn spiritually binding agreement) with those who walk with him faithfully. Covenants are always conditional. You have certain conditions to meet before you can enjoy the blessings of it. God is always faithful in keeping his own part of the covenant, But default usually come from the human.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 17:1-2

Abraham’s part of the bargain was to walk before God blamelessly and God’s part of the deal was to multiply Abraham exceedingly and to make him great.

For you who are reading this devotional God is saying, “ “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” Deuteronomy 28:1

All the blessings attached are listed from verses 2-7 of the same Deuteronomy Chapter 28. There are also curses attached to the failure to keep the terms of the covenant (verses 15-68).

Obedience brings blessings. May you be a recipient of God’s blessings as you keep your own part of the covenant in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: In Jesus name, I will not fail in keeping the terms of God’s covenant in Jesus name.

Keys To Retaining Your Miracles (2)

Date: Saturday, 17th February, 2024

Text: Matthew 12:43-45.

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

When God does a miracle in your life, what he expects is that you build a lasting relationship with him. In order words, miracles are meant to draw you closer to the Lord. Miracles are freely given on a platter of mercy, compassion and love; not for sale.

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people”- 2 Corinthians 6:16a. When God wants to do a miracle of deliverance in your life, for example, the Spirit of God steps into your life, sweeps away every unclean spirit and puts everything in order, just as he did in Genesis 1:2-3.

There is no vacuum both in the natural and the spiritual realm, so in order for your life to remain in order, devoid of demonic infestation, the Spirit of God must remain resident in your life.

However, the problem with many is that after they have gotten their miracle they lose touch with the Holy Spirit. Like a dog that goes back to its vomit, they return back to their usual, unholy way of life, and they lose the Holy Spirit, the source of their miracle.

Eventually, they lose their miracles and their situations even get worse. In today’s text, the Lord explains, “Now when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through waterless (dry, arid) places in search of rest, but it does not find it.Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there- Matthew 12:43-45.

God does not dwell in an environment of confusion and unrighteousness. Determine to retain your miracles as you continue to live in perfect obedience to His word.

Action Nugget: After getting a miracle from God, stay connected to Jesus in holiness and love.  

Keys To Retaining Your Miracles

GOD’S ORACLE

Date: Friday, 16th February, 2024

Text: John 5:1-14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

It is one thing to get a miracle from God, but it is another thing to retain it. One key to keeping your miracle is thanksgiving. Ten lepers were cleansed by the Lord Jesus but only one came back to give thanks; and Jesus pronounced him whole- Luke 17:11-19.

Another key to make your miracles permanent is to stay away from sin. There was a man that was paralyzed and could not get help for 38 years. Eventually, on a particular day, Christ came to his deliverance and later that day, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”  John 5:1-4

You received your miracle because Jesus showed you mercy. So, another key to retain your miracle is to extend God’s mercy to others. A servant got the miracle of huge debt cancellation from his master, who had earlier commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. But he lost his miracle because he didn’t extend the same mercy of forgiveness to another who begged for it- Matthew 18:23-35.

Yesterday, we examined the story of a man that was heavy afflicted by legions of devils. His insanity was of the worst type. But after he got his deliverance, he spent the rest of his life propagating the gospel of Christ and his healing was indeed permanent- Mark 5:1-120. So straight away, we see another key right there- the key of service.

After you have received your miracle, dedicate your energy, time and resources to the service of the Lord and your miraculous blessings shall be permanent in Jesus name.

Action Nugget: Take necessary spiritual steps to ensure your miracle is permanent.

Wandering in the Dark?

Date: Thursday, 15th February, 2024

Text: Mark 5:1-20

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

To wander is to move aimlessly from place to place. It is even worse when it is done in the dark. Darkness typifies ignorance, confusion and the presence of unclean or foul spirits. Wandering in the dark happens when someone lacks the presence of God and cannot find purpose or direction. Valuable time is inevitably lost.

In today’s text we come across the story of a man wandering in the dark. Jesus and his disciples came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, he was met by this man who came out of the cemetery there.

This man had many evil spirits in him and lived among the tombs. Nobody could keep him tied with chains anymore; many times his feet and his hands had been tied, but every time he broke the chains and smashed the irons on his feet. He was too strong for anyone to control him. Day and night he wandered among the tombs and through the hills, screaming and cutting himself with stones.

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him- Mark 5:1-6.

He had been wandering aimlessly under the bondage of unseen dark forces. But the day he met Christ, he worshipped him; the light of God shone, darkness disappeared and he got his deliverance. He came to his right mind and his life found a new meaning.

He became an evangelist spreading the gospel of Christ in Decapolis (Ten Cities), testifying to the whole world what the Lord had done for him and bringing souls into God’s Kingdom. And all who heard it were amazed.

I don’t know how confused you may be right now, but as you bow to Jesus Christ in worship and total surrender, the glorious light of God will shine in your life and your turnaround will happen suddenly in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father of light, please shine your light in my life and give my life direction and meaning in Jesus name.

Lust Isn’t Love

Date: Wednesday, 14th February, 2024

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Lust is not love. Love is of the Spirit of God; while lust is of the flesh. The word of God commands love but warns against lust. Love is selfless while lust is self-seeking or selfish. Love gives and sacrifices- (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son- John 3:16a); while lust satisfies itself at the expense of another; not minding whether its desires will cost the life of another person.

Lust is fleeting and temporal while love is more enduring. Lust is triggered by physically looks and feelings while love is deeper and unconditional.

Lust is fake love.

Concerning lust Jesus warned, ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28

Amnon claimed to ‘love’ his half sister Tamar, and he schemed to rape her. Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” 2 Samuel 13:1-19

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Examine yourself, “Do you love others like Christ or do you lust after them?

Prayer Nugget: Holy Spirit, please fill my heart with true, selfless love in Jesus name.