God’s Oracle Devotionals

Date: Sunday, 26^th November, 2023

Text: Matthew 5:43-48

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

One of the hardest truths of Christianity is today’s topic. Naturally speaking, we are expected to hate our enemies and seek every means to bring them down. 

However, in today’s text, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

One of the reasons why we should love our enemies is stated in Ephesians 6:12, which says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

I have said it again and again, that the spiritual controls the physical. So you need to see beyond the physical entities attacking you. When Jesus was about to breathe his last he prayed for his enemies, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34

He prayed that prayer because he saw beyond the physical enemies. He knew that they were under the influence of unseen evil powers from the realm of darkness in the hands of whom they were simply puppets. The real enemy of Mankind is the devil and his demons.

With that understanding, it will be easy to forgive others and not hold their sins against them. Receive grace to love your enemies in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please enlarge my heart and grant me grace to love my enemies in Jesus name.

Date: Saturday, 25^th November, 2023

Text: Genesis 29:13-31

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Humility is the willingness to associate with people of low position or status. It is to have a realistic self-view and not to overestimate oneself. Genuinely humble souls enjoy the company of ordinary folks; they neither think they know it all nor view themselves as smarter than everyone else. Psalm 113:6 says, “Though God sits enthroned on high, He stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth.”

A haughty soul exhibits the attitude of “Big I, Small You.”

In today’s text Jacob found himself married to two wives, Leah and Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely. His love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. God favoured the woman who was despised but resisted the one who relied on her beauty.

A minister who was invited to preach at our student fellowship back in those days narrated his experience on how God taught him humility. He had believed that his personal effort was all he needed to succeed in life. He worked so hard that he eventually finished with a First Class but he was very haughty.

He had firmly believed that his brilliant academic record would automatically land him very lucrative jobs, his character and attitude notwithstanding. That was the air he carried everywhere he went. He applied to so many companies and attended many interviews, but he got no offer for two consecutive years after graduation.

To his surprise, applicants with less academic qualifications and grades but with humble attitudes were landing the best available jobs. That was when he realized his problem and ran to God for mercy. He repented from his arrogance, humbled himself and placed his trust in God. Not long after, the Lord showed mercy and opened doors unto him. He had learnt humility the hard way.

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up- James 4:10

Prayer Nugget: I reject every haughty spirit. Father, please, clothe me with a garment of humility in Jesus name.

Date: Friday, 24^th November, 2023

Text: James 4:6

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Being humble is better than being humiliated. Humility is the nature of God’s Spirit. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble – James 4:6. Wherever you find humility, you find wisdom and honour. Pride comes with shame and disgrace.-Proverbs 11:2; 18:12.

Pride is no respecter of social status. I have seen people who are poor and very arrogant. The converse also is also true. There are very wealthy people who are extremely humble. Of course those who are highly placed and financially enlarged should be more careful as they have more reasons to be puffed up.

Some individuals who are considered materially rich or wealthy don’t like to help the poor because they believe their achievement came by their own power. Such people should learn from King Nebuchadnezzar who believed all his achievement came from his efforts alone. By the time he recovered from 7-year insanity, he had learnt humility the hard way- Daniel 4:1-37. That will not be your portion in Jesus name.

God has a way of using the foolish things of the world to confound those who think they are wise. In a classroom containing both the rich and the poor, you sometimes see the children of the poor, being exceptionally brilliant despite all their economic disadvantages; while the sons and daughters of the rich struggle with poor grades despite all their privileges.

You sometimes see the children of the economically disadvantaged being very healthy while the seeds of the financially buoyant frequent the hospitals every now and then. At times you see the poor conceiving and giving birth easily while the one with financial strength battle with infertility.

God in His sovereignty does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” Daniel 4:35.

Action Nugget: Stay humble!

Date: Thursday, 23^rd November, 2023

Text: Jonah 1: 1-20

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Yesterday, we affirmed that storms can either come from God or the devil. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus rose up, rebuked the storm and reproved his disciples for not demonstrating faith in taking charge of the boisterous windstorm.

In today’s text, God sent prophet Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness had gone up to Heaven.  But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.  Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up- Jonah 1:2-4.

Every physical effort by the sailors to get the situation under control proved abortive as the storm raged rougher and wilder.

Do you think the storm would have obeyed if Jonah had risen up from his sleep to rebuke it? Of course, no, because it was raging in obedience to God, while Jonah was acting in disobedience.

The storm was sent by God Himself as a judgement to punish Jonah for his act of rebellion. Such storms cannot be rebuked or stilled except the sinner returns back to the path of righteousness.

 As the sea was getting rougher and rougher, the sailors asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” Jonah replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” Jonah 1:11-12.

There are some storms that do not respond to prayers but to acts of obedience. Immediately Jonah was cast into sea, the storms ceased.

Are you experiencing raging storms and you have prayed but things seem to even get worse? You need to look inwards, repent and return to the path of obedience; and the storm will cease in Jesus name.

Reflective Nugget: Storms will only obey you if you live in obedience to the Controller of storms.

Date: Wednesday, 22^nd November, 2023

Text: Mark 5:1-20

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Storms can either come from the devil or from God Himself. The kind of storm the disciples and Master experienced in Mark 4:35-41 was from the devil. He sent the storm in order to stop Jesus and his men from crossing over to the other side of the sea where the mad man of Gadara was. But the enemy’s plan failed.

Immediately, Jesus stepped out of the boat in chapter 5 of the book of Mark, he was met by the demoniac who was possessed by a legion of demons (about two thousand).

The man’s insanity was of the very worst type. He lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. He had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones- Mark 5:2-5

Eventually, he got his deliverance and went about single-handedly preaching and testifying about Jesus Christ in Decapolis (a league of ten cities)- Mark 5:20. He devastated the kingdom of darkness terribly and populated God’s kingdom by spreading the fame of Jesus across the cities single-handedly.

The devil knew beforehand that the man was a potential threat to his kingdom, so he bound him with high-level madness. And even when Jesus, the Deliverer was coming to set him free, the devil sent a storm. Those are the devices of the evil one. But Christ prevailed over them all.

Every storm sent from the realm of darkness to stop your deliverance will not achieve its purpose in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: I still every storm sent to stop my deliverance in Jesus name.

Date: Tuesday, 21^st November, 2023

Text: Mark 4:35-41

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

That storm you are currently experiencing will not swallow you in Jesus name. Don’t panic; just believe; stir up your faith and decree to your storms to cease. It is not a time to apportion blames, make negative confessions or report your case to those who will instill fear into you.

Shift your focus away from the storm but fix your gaze on the Controller of it. Storms obey Him. One pertinent question you must answer is this- Is Jesus in your boat? If yes, then command the storms in his name and they will surely obey.

The disciples in today’s text, had Jesus in their boat but instead of taking charge of the situation, they began to fear and asked, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Mark 4:38. Of course, they know the answer to the rhetorical question they asked.

Are you confronted by storms in your health, marriage, business, job or education? The storm will not swallow you. Just get up and take charge in Jesus name. Storms surely obey Him. And if you are yet to invite Jesus Christ into your life, what are you waiting for?

Prophetic Nugget: That storm you are currently experiencing will not swallow you in Jesus name

Date: Monday, 20^th November, 2023

Text: Mark 3:22-27

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

There is a difference between miracle and magic. Miracle comes from God but magic comes from the devil. Faith in Christ is the mother of miracle while manipulation is the mother of magic. Miracle lasts as long as you maintain your obedience in the Lord, but magic can fail anytime.

In today’s text some religious leaders accused Jesus of using diabolical powers to do miracles. They claimed he was using Beelzebub, a prince of devils to cast out devils. But Jesus wondered at their ignorance. They did not understand that the devil’s kingdom is so organized that the hierarchies work hand-in-hand.

Ephesians 6:12 identified the hierarchies as principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. They work in agreement; therefore it is surprising when anyone thinks an agent of Satan (like a sorcerer or witch) can solve a problem caused by another agent of the devil.

Jesus wondered, “How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.” Mark 3:23-26.

Satan has no real blessing. His ‘blessings’ comes with sorrow.But the blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it- Proverbs 10:22

At the Cross of Calvary Jesus plundered the principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. He is therefore, Sovereign over the Principalities and Powers. He can undo the concluded works of darkness- Colossians 2:10-15.

Are you afflicted by the evil powers? Do you desire a lasting solution to your nagging problems? Cry to Jesus today!

Prayer Nugget: Father, please, undo all the concluded works of darkness in my life today in Jesus name.

Date: Sunday, 19^th November, 2023

Text: Psalm 40:1-3

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Out of envy, Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him but by the mercy of God, the plan was thwarted and he was cast into a pit instead- a dirty and dry pit with no ventilation. But by that same mercy of God he was delivered out of it.

The Psalmist said, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3

Are you in a pit of hopelessness, indebtedness or despondency? I pray that you will obtain mercy and be delivered today in Jesus name.

Jonah found himself in the dark and smelly belly of a whale; all hopes seemed lost but right from the inside of the animal, he cried to God for three days and three nights. The resurrection power of God came to the rescue and the whale vomited him- Jonah 1-2.

If you will repent of all your sins and forsake them; and like Jonah, renew your commitment to the Lord, and cry to Him for mercy, He will hear from Heaven, forgive your sins and deliver you. Every visible and invisible wall limiting your destiny shall give way in Jesus name.

Prayer Nugget: Father, please show me your mercy and help me break through every wall of limitation in Jesus name.

Date: Saturday, 18^th November, 2023

Text: Acts 16:16-28

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

In the physical realm, prison walls are very thick and high. And they are guarded by security operatives and wardens day and night. A prisoner is highly limited and largely has no control of his life. Things are similar in the realm of the spirit. Many are bound by invisible prison walls of sin, drug addictions, sickness, poverty, fear, doubt, failure and disappointment.

The Word of God says, “Some dwelt in darkness and in the deep (deathly) darkness, prisoners (bound) in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the precepts of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labor; they stumbled and there was no one to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them from their distresses.” Psalm 107:10-13

Another major weapon that can be used to demolish the invisible prison walls of darkness can be found in today’s text. Paul and Silas found themselves in a very humiliating and limiting situation for doing God’s work. They had been severely flogged and were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose- Acts 16:23-26

Are you walled in by invisible prisons or limited by the chains of Satan? Spend quality time passionately worshiping and praising God, especially in the sensitive early hours of the night. The Spirit of the Lord will descend and set you free from your bondage in Jesus name.

Action Nugget: Invest quality time praising the One who is able to liberate you from the prison walls of darkness.

Date: Friday, 17^th November, 2023

Text: Psalm 24:1-10

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Do you sometimes wonder why you are not making progress despite the fact that you have every reason to make it? Do you sometimes know what to do but for some unexplainable reasons, you are not doing it? Do you regularly experience failure at the edge of success?

Have you severally made very determined and serious efforts and yet you have nothing to show? Have you and your spouse being medically examined concerning your fertility and certified okay, but still you cannot conceive?

You may be confronted by walls invisible. Such walls can hem its victims in, and prevent help from reaching such people.

In order to breakthrough, you also need invisible weapons. The Sword of the Spirit can be deployed to actively dismantle such obstacles. It is mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The Sword of the Spirit is the word of God which is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart-Hebrews 4:12.

The Word of God says, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” Psalm 24:7. Quote this scripture and pray aggressively, asking the walls to give way so that the King of Glory can take his rightful place in your situation today.

Prayer Nugget: In Jesus name I command every invisible wall hindering my progress to give way!