God’s Oracle Devotionals

Date: Saturday, 20^th April, 2024

Text: Acts 16:16- 37

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Many of us tend to believe that when things are going well, it signifies that God is with us; and when things become stormy or rough, it means that God is far away. This is far from the truth! The only thing that drives God’s presence away is sin, not storms or bad times.

When Joseph found himself in the dark period of his life (in prison), the Bible said, ^“But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Genesis 39:21

As long as you remain righteous and holy, no matter what bad times you go through, he has promised never to leave you nor forsake you, whether in the heat of fire or in the cold valley of the shadow of death- Isaiah 43:2. Remain in the love of Christ and all things will work together for your good in Jesus name- Romans 8:28

In contrast, a man can live in physical luxury all his life and be devoid of God’s presence; if you don’t believe ask the rich man in the 16^th chapter of Luke. He was a candidate of Hell though he was financially ‘successful’- Luke 16:19-31.

Praise becomes more sacrificial when you do it when it appears you have “no reason” to. Paul and Silas were arrested for casting out the demon in a girl possessed with a familiar spirit. Through this demon, she predicted the future and earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.

When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They were framed up as ‘criminals’ out to disturb the peace of the society. Thus, they suffered severe torture and were jailed. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the presence of God came down mightily in an earthquake. And their prison doors were flung open.

Their affliction eventually led to the salvation of the prison jailer and his entire household- Acts 16:16- 37. Your current situation will lead to a mighty testimony in Jesus name.

Reflective Nugget: God’s presence is highly provoked when you praise him when the weather is rough and stormy.

Date: Friday, 19^th April, 2024

Text: Hebrews 13:15

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

It is easy to praise God when things are going easy and smooth. When the weather is fair and bright, naturally we are happy and almost spontaneously, praise flows from within. At a time when you plan an event and it turns out wonderful or you invest in a business and it yielded much profit as you expect or even beyond your expectations; you rejoice and out of gratitude, you praise God.

However, will you still praise God when things are rough and stormy?

A Song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither goes thus:

Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known
But things change when you’re down in the valley

… Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone

For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night

… You talk of faith when you’re up on the mountain
But talk comes so easy when life’s at it’s best
Now it’s down in the valleys, of trials and temptations
That’s where your faith, is really put to the test

… For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day, is still God in the night

Whether night or day; good or bad, determine to praise Him at all times. The word of God says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15

Prayer Nugget: Father, I ask for the heart that praises you in every situation in Jesus name.

Date: Thursday, 18^th April, 2024

Text: Proverbs 12:17

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The founder of a successful company was getting older and weaker. He came to the realization that he needed a successor CEO to keep the company going. But he had a trust concern. He figured it out that the successor must be an honest and trustworthy fellow, so he came up with a simple test.

He called all his employees together announcing his retirement plans. He informed them of his search for a new leader and that the one who passes his test would emerge the new company head. He gave them seeds to tend and nurture. They were to grow them in pots and report progress every month, for the next one year. The person with the best result would emerge the new CEO.

They all got back home and planted the seeds in pots and after a month they started reporting their progresses. Each came with well watered pots having beautifully growing plants. However, one of them could not achieve the kind of results others had because his own seeds refused to germinate. He tried all he could; added fertilizer, wetted it regularly but all to no avail. He felt ashamed of his poor results whenever the others reported their progresses. This went on for about a year.

At the end of the year, the old founder was now ready to announce the winner of the seed growth contest. They all came with their well grown plants awaiting positive rewards; the other guy with the empty pot also came already feeling defeated. But they were shocked when the old founder announced the guy with the empty pot as the new CEO.

The founder revealed that the seeds he gave them were dead seeds. They had been boiled and dried , so there was no way they would have grown under any circumstances. The other employees had gone to buy and plant new seeds when they realized that the seeds they were given were not growing. They failed the simple test of honesty woefully.

Theword of God says, “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit”- Proverbs 12:17. Again, it says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to a people”. Proverbs 14:34.

Prayer Nugget: I repent from any dishonest act and ask for the grace to be honest always in Jesus name.

Date: Wednesday, 17^th April, 2024

Text: Proverbs 16:20

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

The story was told of some job applicants who went for an aptitude test. They were given several tens of questions some of which were tough but they were to finish within a short period. They were under tremendous pressure due to the limited time they were given to complete the test.

Expectedly, all of them got to work and started attempting the questions from the beginning. They however, noticed that one applicant submitted his paper after less than five minutes. His paper was almost blank. The general thought was that the applicant found the questions difficult and so could not attempt any. So everybody continued to sweat it out until they were stopped. Of course the exceptionally brilliant and fast ones finished but many of them complained of too little time for the many questions.

At the end of the day they all failed the test except the first candidate who submitted a blank sheet within a few minutes. He was the only one who read the instruction. The instruction said they should not attempt ANY question but they were meant to just write their names and phone numbers and submit.

The test was not about their academic knowledge but the employer was looking for those who pay attention to details and follow instructions.

There is a close relationship between obedience and prosperity. Many people fail in life because they act without following relevant instructions.

The word of God says, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” 

Again, the word of God says, “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)

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

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.