Category: Uncategorized

Date: Monday, 12th February, 2024

Text: Proverbs 22:6

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

In order for your children to serve the Lord from their youth, they need to love God from the beginning. Be deliberate in creating an atmosphere that makes them love spiritual things. Engage them in daily worship in their personal lives and family devotions.

Teach them how to pray by modelling the right prayer structure for them. Ask for their own opinions on bible topics and lessons. Allow them to ask questions and answer all no matter how “wise” or “foolish” they sound.

Whenever you are going to any spiritual gathering, take them along so that they can have first-hand worship experience. Don’t leave your children at home because they are “too young.” In fact, their youthfulness makes them more qualified to experience God early. That experience has a way of sticking to their memories till their old age.

Children Sunday School is very vital because it forms the strong foundational building blocks for their faith early in life. There they listen to bible stories that form their initial knowledge about God.

Children love colours, animations and cartoons. So make use of these tools to stimulate their interests about God. Deliberately invest in biblical resources that are colourful and highly illustrative so that they don’t get bored reading or watching them.

Make it a daily habit to prayerfully intercede for your children so that they are filled with Holy Spirit from their childhood and that the evil influences of the world will have zero impact on their lives.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, grant me the wisdom and grace to train my children in your way in Jesus name.

Date: Sunday, 11th February, 2024

Text: John 13:13-15

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The first role model a child has is his parent. One of the easiest ways to influence your children in a godly way is to lead by example. Even without you saying anything to your children, they will most likely copy your actions. Actions speak louder than words.

Your children are more likely to treat their future spouses with love and care, if they grow up observing you treat your spouse with affectionate love; the opposite is also true.

The word of God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. Take note that it said, “train” a child. To train means to teach a person or animal a particular skill or type of behaviour through practice and instruction over a period of time.

So training involves instruction and practice (demonstration). St. Luke wrote of how Jesus began both to do and teach (Acts 1:1). For effectiveness, the doing should precede the teaching.

In today’s text, Jesus said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:13-15

It was easy for the disciples to behave like Christ because the Lord was a doer instructor, someone who practiced what he preached.

Action Nugget: Be a godly role model to your children.

Date: Saturday, 10th February, 2024

Text: Luke 2:41-52

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example. When he was twelve years old (not even a teenager yet), he was found in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers- Luke 2:41-52.

Your own children too can be on fire for God at their young ages. However, you need to be intentional about training them in the way of God. Concerning Abraham God said, “ For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”  Genesis 18:19.

For God to do what he has purposed to do in the life of Abraham, he had to do his own part by first obeying God and then commanding his children and entire household (including domestic staff members) to do the same.

He successfully transferred his faith to Isaac, who also did the same to Jacob and others.

Similarly, concerning Timothy, Paul wrote, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5

The secret is an early start. He has done it in the life of others, God will do it in the lives of your children and young ones in Jesus name.

However, you can’t give what you don’t have. You need to be genuinely born again yourself before you can ‘infect’ your children with the same spirit. So start by yielding your life to the new management of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please help me to love you with all my heart, soul and mind and to transfer the same to my children early in life in Jesus name.

Date: Friday, 9th February, 2024

Text: Proverbs 22:6

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The reason why some people find themselves not serving God at their youthful age is because they have not known God from their childhood. They were born to unbelieving parents who did not show them the way of the Lord. No one can give what he does not have.

Some parents even know the way of the Lord but they failed to show their children God’s way  as early as possible. Human psychologists say that a child is most likely to imbibe a training or teaching if it is inculcated into him before the age of 6. To inculcate is to instill an idea, attitude, or habit by persistent instruction. It is not a day job; rather, a continuous process, until Christ is fully formed in them.

That means you should start teaching your children the way of the Lord long before they clock 6 years old. After the age of six, the child will start forming a mind of his own. And it may be more challenging to ‘bend’ the child after this age.

Surprisingly, I have seen parents who still think their children are too small to learn the ways of God at teenage! So they leave them to do whatever they wish under the guise of ‘they are too young’.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs” 22:6

Prayer Nugget: Father, please grant me the wisdom and grace to teach my children the way of the Lord.

Date: Thursday, 8th February, 2024

Text: Ecclesiastes 12:1

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head. Proverbs 20:29. This strength is a gift from God to every human. It is left to each individual how he decides to use it.

Christ began his ministry at the youthful age of 30, ministering around the villages and towns of Israel for about 3 and a half years and was sacrificed on the Cross of Calvary at the age of 33+, still very young (as the Lamb of God, not Sheep of God).

I have heard someone said he will live the way he likes till the age of 65 and afterwards, he will clean up since he would be closer to the grave then. But the problem with this thought pattern is found in the word of God which says, “As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death.” Ecclesiastes 8:8

There is time for everything. So it is wise to heed the Word of God which says you should

‘Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” ‘ Ecclesiastes 12:1.

It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young- Lamentations 3:27. Serve him young!

Action Nugget: Serve him young!

Date: Wednesday, 7^th February, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:14-16

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

If you are son or daughter of light, anywhere you find yourself, don’t hide your identity. Let everyone know who you are and what you stand for.

Many years ago, I taught in a school in the Northern part of Nigeria. It was examination time and I was one of the invigilators. They all knew me and what I stood for, so when they wanted to engage in examination malpractices, they knew I would not be in support, so the supervisors, being complicit, stylishly asked me to leave the venue and I obliged. It is better that way, than soiling my hands.

The reason why the sons of darkness keep patronizing you is because you have not made your stand clear. In order for you to stay holy, let your convictions be made clear to everyone. How can you be a Christian sister and the worldly people mistake you for a prostitute? If you are a true child of God, dress and act like one.

The word of God says, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid; neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Light does not blend with darkness; rather, it chases darkness away.

Humble yourself and engage in the work of God everywhere you find yourself. Do not be a bench warmer. Be active in soul winning and in God’s work in your local assembly.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, help me to always shine as light in this dark world in Jesus name.

Date: Tuesday, 6^th February, 2024

Text: Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 27:17

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Sometimes it is wise to learn from animals. For example, God directed the lazy man to go to the ants, learn its hardworking ways and be wise- Proverbs 6:6-11.

We can do a comparative study of the lion and the tiger. Even though they are both wild cats popular in the jungle, they have different social attitudes. The lion is highly sociable, preferring to move in packs. As a result of this social behaviour, even though the lion is smaller in size than the tiger, it can, as a group, take down larger animals like the giraffe.

The tiger, on the other hand, is bigger, more muscular, stronger, and more active and have better agility compared to lions, however, is a solitary animal preferring to do the one-man show. But today, conservationists confirm that they are at the brink of extinction.

Today, many Christians are burnt out and are at the brink of spiritual extinction today because they are loners.

The Word of God says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17. And also, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Online fellowships are good, if the venue of the church service is out of physical reach. However, it is far better to be physically present at church meetings. Let me ask you, as a bride or a groom, would you prefer an online wedding or a physical one? Obviously, you would prefer the physical under normal circumstances, because the virtual one has a lot of limitations.

When we come together in the name of the Lord, the Spirit of God is present-Matthew 18:20. We encourage one another, pray together under corporate anointing. We learn the word of God, ask questions, get counselled and get fired up to go back into the unbelieving world to shine as light and win souls into God’s kingdom.

Action Nugget: Do not give up the habit of meeting together.

Date: Monday, 5^th February, 2024

Text: 1 Peter 5:8

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

One of the reasons a child of God must abstain from alcoholic drinks is that it creates a conducive atmosphere for sin, especially fornication and adultery. Lot committed incest with and even impregnated his two daughters under the influence of wine and he didn’t realize it until it was too late-Genesis 19:30-38.

Noah’s drunkenness led to the exposure of his nakedness and the curse of his youngest son, Ham- Genesis 9:18-25.

The word of God says, “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” Proverbs 31:6-7

Alcohol is also referred to as ‘spirit’. What kind of spirit? It is an intoxicating demon that makes it impossible to be sober and vigilant. 1 Peter 5:8. They say, ‘Don’t drink and drive,’ because driving requires a high level of concentration and vigilance. But vigilance is not only required by drivers because the devil does not target only drivers but every living soul.

 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Avoid staying in lonely places with the opposite sex. This was why Joseph fled away from Portiphar’s wife because the woman was desperately pressurizing him for sexual intimacy. If he had stayed back to negotiate, the unexpected might have happened. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “flee fornication,” don’t stay back to negotiate.

Reflective Nugget: Do you desire to be holy? Be sober and vigilant.

Date: Sunday, 4^th February, 2024

Text: Proverbs 4:23-25

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Today’s text says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. “

It is very important to guard the gates that lead to the heart, namely the eye, the ear, taste and touch. If you spend your time listening to ungodly music or watching unedifying content on social media, you are setting up the wrong atmosphere for sin. You must deliberately censor what goes to your heart to avoid pollution.

If you ask Job, how he was able to conquer fornication and adultery, his reply would be, “I made a covenant with my eyes, not to look lustfully at a young woman.” Job 31:1. It was his personal decision and a way of disciplining himself.

Invest time and energy on spiritually edifying resource materials and programs that would boost your faith, hope and love for God.

Be deliberate in choosing your circle of friends. If you are a married woman and your closest friends are divorcees; it is only a matter of time and you will become one of them.

 If you live to satisfy your sinful self, the harvest you will get from that will be eternal death. But if you live to please the Spirit, your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. Galatians 6:8

Action Point: Abstain from every appearance of evil and guard your heart diligently.

Date: Saturday, 3^rd February, 2024

Text: Romans 13:14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Holiness is a lifestyle for anybody who wants to make it to Heaven. In order to consistently obey God totally, there are steps necessary to take to create the right atmosphere for it. First of all, as a person, you must be a lover of righteousness and a hater of iniquity.

In order to create the right personal atmosphere for holy living, as a habit, you must always renew your mind daily with the word of God. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

This transformation is a spiritual process that occurs by the power of God’s word which renews the mind when we expose ourselves daily to it. It makes the heart remain soft and yielding to the will of God.

A heart far from the word of God will become hardened with time and self-willed, always resisting the will of God. Its desires are always diametrically opposed to the will of God and all it wants to do is to fulfill the desires of the sinful nature.

To be holy, you must “make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Romans 13:14.

Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation. In the place of prayer, strength is received to carry out God’s will. At Gethsemane, our Lord prayed earnestly and an angel came to strengthen him- Luke 22: 39-44. This strength is called GRACE.

Grace is constantly received during times of prayer intimacy with God. You need grace to stay pure in this corrupt world. You need Grace to say ‘to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.’ Titus 2:11-12

Action Nugget: Make holiness your lifestyle.