God’s Oracle Devotionals

Date: Wednesday, 24^th July, 2024

Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-13

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

If you are the type of person that habitually pick hot things with your bare hands, after a while, you would notice that your palms become thick and resistant to heat. Similarly, many have trained their hearts to do evil such that over time their hearts have become deadened; they don’t feel remorse anymore, if they do anything evil. This is the unfortunate state of the hearts of many souls in the world.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (depraved, corrupted, perverse) mind, to do those things which are not convenient.  Romans 1:28

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Genesis 6:5-6 says, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”

A heart that is alive and soft would be pricked if he ever does evil either by commission or omission. For example, David had a rare opportunity to kill his arch enemy, King Saul. His bodyguards pressurized him to take the king’s life while he was fast asleep, but he refused to fall into that temptation.

However, in order to prove to Saul that he actually had that opportunity, he decided to cut off part of the king’s skirt.  The word of God said, “And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 24:5-6

Action Nugget: Examine yourself and ask the Lord to take away every stony heart from you and give you a heart of flesh.

Date: Tuesday, 23^rd July, 2024

Text: Mark 8:13-21

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The condition of the heart is of paramount importance to God because the heart is the seat or center of decision making and thoughts which eventually influence or controls our actions. The heart is a strategic focal point which acts as a battleground between the human (sinful) nature and the divine nature. Who wins the battle of your heart depends on whose side you are on.

The word of God says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs4:23.

A spiritually healthy heart is broken, soft, teachable and yielded to doing the will of God. But unfortunately, most people are spiritually diagnosed to possess hardened hearts. A hardened heart is cold and unresponsive to the control of the Holy Spirit.

One of the characteristics of living things is sensitivity or irritability; that is, ability to respond to stimuli. A dead body is no longer able to respond to any form of external touches. The remains of a dead animal or human gradually become stiff (hard) and cold; as times goes on decay sets in.

Similarly, a hardened heart is dead, unyielding, unresponsive and disobedient to the will of God. In today’s text the Lord Jesus Christ rebuked even his own disciples for demonstrating hardness of heart. He said to them, “Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?” Mark 8:17-18.

How about your heart?

Prayer Nugget: By the power of the Resurrection and Life of Christ we receive a reawakening from every spiritual deadness and hardness of the heart in Jesus name.

Date: Monday, 22^nd July, 2024

Text: Psalm 103:8-14

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Mercy is one of the qualities of the Most High. If not for this divine attribute, the world would probably have been destroyed long ago because of the wickedness of Mankind. But his mercy brings forgiveness when God sees evidence of repentance.

We enjoy a lot of things by God’s mercy. Prophet Jeremiah said, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

In today’s text, the Psalmist also confirmed saying, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

^“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:8-14

The implication of enjoying God’s mercy is to reciprocate his kind gesture by not taking it for granted.

Psalm 103 verse 13 says, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.” This signifies that there is a strong connection between the fear of God and his mercy. The more you fear God the more of His mercy you will enjoy. The reverse is also true- the less you fear God the less of his mercy you will enjoy.  So the ball is actually in our courts.

Another implication of his mercies which we enjoy is that we are obligated to extend the same kind gesture to our fellow men. If God has forgiven our unrighteousness by His mercy, we should do the same to those who offend us. It is only then we can successfully pray saying, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Matthew 6:12

Prayer Nugget: Father, thank you for your mercy which I am enjoying; I ask for the grace to always extend your mercy to others in Jesus name.

Sunday, 21^st July, 2024

Text: Proverbs 3:5-9

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

There is nothing we have that God did not give us (1 Corinthians 4:7). Without Him we can do nothing. If indeed you believe that all your achievements could not have been possible without God’s support and blessings, then it is very necessary for you to show gratitude.

We must not take His blessings for granted. Those that take him for granted may find their blessings being reversed; they may suddenly discover that the door God opened before them suddenly becomes shut. May those not be your portion in Jesus name.   

In today’s text, the word of God says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:5-7,9

You should honour God by sacrificing your first fruits, tithes and offerings. When you do so, you acknowledge Him to be your source of provisions; secondly you are thanking Him for providing for you; thirdly you are asking God to do more. Fourthly, you are asking the Lord to bless the remaining substance in your care so that the enemy will not steal them from you through incurable sickness, scammers etc

However, for God to accept your offerings, tithes and firstfruits, surrender your heart to God and live a holy life.

Prayer Nugget: Father, I receive the grace to always honour you with my substance in Jesus name.

Date: Thursday, 18^th July, 2024

Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Apostle Paul is a sterling example of a man of God, who though was highly anointed and very busy with the work of evangelism, chose to work on a part time basis as a tentmaker to earn a living- Acts 18:1-3.

In his second epistle to the Thessalonians church he wrote, “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies (A busybody is someone who loves to poke his nose into other person’s affairs without being invited. He does not mind his own business but loves to meddle in other person’s matters.). Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

“We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”- 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 12; 6-10.

Again in his epistle to the Ephesians church he said, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need”- Ephesians 4:28.

Indeed there is dignity in labour. No matter how little you earn, you are far better than a beggar.

Every child of God must be an asset (a problem solver) to the church and the society at large; not a liability (a problem to be solved).

Action Nugget: Be a problem solver and not a problem to be solved.

Date: Wednesday, 17^th July, 2024

Text: 2 Samuel 11:1-17

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Idleness gives Satan a foothold. If you are not engaged with something godly and profitable, the devil will engage you. The Turks have a proverb which says that the devil tempts all other men, but that idle men tempt the devil.

The popular proverb, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” implies that evil thoughts find their way into our minds easily when we are indolent and idle. When a man is idle, all sorts of evil ideas creep into his mind and it becomes the perfect place for the devil to carry out his evil works.

According to today’s text, there was a time when David the king became idle. He stayed back home in his palace when other kings went to war. It was then Satan gave him something to do.

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. He found out that the woman was the wife of one of his choice soldiers who was at the battle front fighting for the nation.

Before he knew what was happening King David found himself in the sin of adultery; the lady became pregnant and in order to cover up his evil tracks, he tried to push the pregnancy on the husband; when the husband did not fall for that trap, he officially arranged his murder and snatched his beautiful wife- 2 Samuel 11:1-17.

Idleness made a king to betray his own gallant soldier into the cold hands of death. Uriah, the poor soldier could never have thought, in his wildest imagination, that the same king David who sent him to battle would mastermind his murder on the battle field. That is one of the consequences of indolence.

David later asked for forgiveness and God forgave him but that did not save him from the consequences of his evil actions. God severely punished the king by bringing calamity on him and by laying a curse on him and his household- 2 Samuel 12:1-12.

His children turned against one another committing incest and killing themselves. He was temporarily dethroned by his own son, Absalom who raped his father’s wives in broad day light. The curse eventually consumed four of his sons, namely Amnon, his first born, Absalom, Adonijah and the baby born from the adulterous act-2 Samuel 12ff. He reaped what he sowed.

Action Nugget: Take active steps to free yourself from the trap of idleness and indolence.

Date: Tuesday, 16^th July, 2024

Text:  Matthew 25:14–30

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The “Parable of the Talents” in today’s text, tells of a master who was leaving his house to travel, and, before leaving, entrusted his property to his servants. According to the abilities of each man, one servant received five talents, the second had received two, and the third received only one. Then the master went on his journey.

By the time he returned, he called his servants to give accounts of their stewardship. The one with five talents had put them to work and gained five more; the one given two had gained two more and their master commended them handsomely.

However,  the servant with the least ability could not multiply his talent. He went and dug the ground and hid it there. While the others worked with their talents, he idled away engaging himself with unprofitable things.

When the unproductive servant was called to give account of his stewardship, he began to fault his master and gave excuses typical of indolent folks. Instead of accepting the blame, he accused his master of being, “a hard man, harvesting where he had not sown and gathering where he had not scattered seed.” Matthew 25:24-25

His master replied by describing him as a “wicked, lazy and worthless servant”, got him arrested and thrown to jail. His master said he could have kept the money in the bank to yield some interest instead of hiding it in the ground.

The talent was taken from him and given to the man with ten talents because “whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Matthew 25:29

Reflective nugget: Laziness is a sin.

Date: Monday, 15^th July, 2024

Text:  Proverbs 6:6-11

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

God has created nature in such a way that both the living and non-living components complement each other; and when you observe its elements carefully you can learn wisdom; because since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that no man can give excuse. Romans 1:20.

The word of God says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

We can actually gain wisdom and conquer indolence by observing an animal as small as an ant. The word of God says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

“How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep- So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:6-11

Sleep is very good because we rest and get refreshed through it; however, anyone given to it will lose much productive time.  If you sleep for 8 hours every day, by the time you clock 70 years, you must have slept for more than 23 years of your life! If you must conquer indolence, reduce your sleep; convert and invest those hours to achieving meaningful and productive work.

The word of God says, “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.” Proverbs 20:13.

Prayer Nugget: Father, grant me wisdom and strength to conquer indolence in Jesus name.

Date: Saturday, 13^th July, 2024

Text: Joshua 1:1-9

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

In several corners of major cities like Lagos, Nigeria, you will see many betting shops. On TV you would often view several commercials promoting betting. It has really become a huge business thriving in the country despite the hardship ravaging many lives. Why is this so? This is because so many have left their lives to chance. They wishfully think and fantasize that they would one day wake up and suddenly stumble on riches and wealth. There is a Scottish proverb that says, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

Even if you make riches by luck you cannot sustain it by luck. Riches in the hands of an indolent person would soon grow wings and fly away to those who can sustain them.

If you ask those who are genuinely and sustainably financially successful they would tell you that they made it through God’s favour, strategic thinking, hard and smart work; relentless investments, financial prudence, patience and endurance.

One of the virtues lacking in the lives of the indolent is self-motivation. Self-motivation comes from the will power to pursue your God-given dreams and aspirations. The indolent lacks the ability to push themselves out of their comfort zones.

When Joshua became the new leader of Israel, three times God told him to be strong and courageous. The third time, the Lord said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Strength and courage are needed if you must conquer the spirit of indolence.

Prayer Nugget: I rebuke and cast out the spirit of discouragement, lack of self motivation and weakness in Jesus name.

Date: Friday, 12^th July, 2024

Text: John 5:1-17

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Another word for indolence is idleness, laziness or slothfulness. It is a word that describes someone who avoids work and loves inactivity or ease. An indolent person is also described as a slacker or a sluggard.

 We are wired to be active. You will notice that any part of the body that is often put to use looks bigger and stronger while the less active parts looks smaller and weaker. Simply put, indolence reduces and weakens a man.

In today’s text Jesus was criticized for working on a day declared for rest- a Sabbath day. He was accused of violating the law by healing a man that had been sick and bedridden for 38 years, on a Sabbath. The religious leaders began to persecute him for this reason. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17 (NIV)

The agenda of God for mankind and for individuals cannot be carried out when the spirit of indolence is at work. One common thing about indolent persons is that they complain a lot and look for every excuse to avoid work. They always procrastinate, saying, “I will do it later, I will do it later.”Their tables are always filled with backlogs of files they have refused to attend to.

An indolent person would refuse to go to work and when you ask him, he could complain that “There’s danger out there, I could be kidnapped on my way to work!” Proverbs 22:13 says, “The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”However, he has bills to pay.

The spirit of indolence makes a man unproductive, robs him of fulfilling his potentials and reduces him to a beggar who always depends on those who are productive. An indolent person will not always be able to meet up with his responsibilities and becomes a burden and disappointment to himself, his family, employer, business associates and so on.

Make up your mind to be a hard and smart worker.

Action Nugget: Break yourself free from the spirit of indolence today!