Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

James 1:22-24 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”_ – NIV Apostle James was emphasizing the importance of being doers of God’s word. A lot of people throng places of worship or tune to preaching programs every week to, among other things, listen to God’s word taught. But the irony is that most of them manifest a different lifestyle not in agreement with the teachings they recieved. Such are the people James says are deceiving themselves. The word of God is powerful enough to cause transformation in a person’s life and in any situation whatsoever. But it only works when it is obeyed and acted upon in faith. Hebrews 4:2 says, _”For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”_So how does one decieve himself? By listening/reading God’s word (the mirror), expecting it to bring results in their lives and situations, and yet they are not willing to do what the word says! They have other interests, desires and priorities competing against the word. The word of God should take precedence over anything else if it is to work. The biggest challenge in the church today is unbelieving Christians who partially believe God’s word to the extent of their convenience. They want the word to coexist with other things they are not willing to surrender and forsake. They confess Christ, but bear no fruit worthy of repentance and their profession of faith.Deception is elusive. Its important to examine oneself.  Are you a victim of self deception? Can you hear Jesus say, ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?’ The remedy is simple: choose to believe and act on the word. Align all other things to obey the word. _Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 14:6 "Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”_ - NIV 

Israel was in an awkward situation. The philistines in their thousands had come to attack. King Saul wasn’t prepared. They had no weapons except Saul and Jonathan. His army greatly panicked and went into hiding. It was a sure defeat in waiting for them. But Jonathan and his armor bearer decided to take a huge risk by showing themselves up to their enemies and trusting God to save Israel through them. Just the two of them with God against multitudes! And great victory came.

Sometimes we have to step out in faith and venture into what we believe is in God’s will against the odds. If Jonathan had not trusted God and taken that step without the knowledge of his father Saul, the whole nation would have suffered defeat. If we are to wait for all factors to be favorable before we launch out, we might wait indefinitely. Afew with God is unmatched. As Jonathan noted, God can safe with a few or with many. Nothing can hinder Him.

But for this to happen, one has to take a step and act. Peter could not have walked on water until he stepped out. The Red sea and Jordan river parted when Israel stepped on them. The lepers couldnt have seen a miraculous provision if they didnt risk their lives. We may never know what God can accomplish in and through us until we overcome fear, take the steps and then see God act. So many are frozen and paralyzed with fear. Dreams and projects have died as a result. If you know what needs to be done is in God’s will and time, take a step. You lose nothing by trying it out._

Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."_

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Joel 2:12-13 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart  and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” – NIV

Prophet Joel’s key message in his book was that disaster was coming upon the land and people needed to repent of their sins and return to the Lord. The people had forsaken the Lord and turned to idols. The leaders and priests alike had drifted away from God’s ways to the extent that judgement was inevitable. But He gave them warning and opportunity to avert God’s judgement by returning to God through whole hearted repentance and brokenness.

To return implies you left or forsook something or someone and you need to get back to them. Human hearts are very susceptible to drifting away from God to other things, including the cares and pleasures of this life. Many have backsliden from the faith, forsaken God and His ways. They have loved the world and its evil ways, the easy broad way instead of following the narrow path to life. To all such people, the call to return to God comes.

God set conditions for the return that He accepts. These are; returning with one’s whole heart, in humble and broken hearts, and coming back to Him. External hypocritical actions of repentance which are not from the heart are not recognized by God. In response to whole hearted return, He promises to heal and restore in compassion and love. God, the searcher of mens hearts knows each one of us. You too know the state of your relationship with God. Have you drifted away in some way from Him? Come back to God. He is willing to recieve you back to Himself.

Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake their ways  and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Revelation 2:5 “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 34:19-20 “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones,  not one of them will be broken._” – NIV The psalmist acknowledged in his meditations that there can be many troubles for the righteous. There is the devil, the god of the evil system of the world, whose mission is to steal, kill and destroy. He will stir up trouble and cause much havoc in people’s lives and relationships. These result in lost relationships, joy and peace. People get wounded, hate, and fight each other, find no sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. Some resort to dangerous lifestyles to ease inner pain.Many have had series of devastating occurrences one after another. Life has not been a straight smooth line, but rough, crooked and sometimes very uncertain. Society is full of problems caused by poverty, sickness and disease, wars and destruction, crime and violence, and death. Because of this, many get disappointed, feel pain, cry out, lose hope. Even with acquisition of things comes its fears and troubles. Life seems a gamble. Many are wounded within.Thank God this grim picture of our lives and society is not the end of the story. Out of all the troubles and challenges we may face, the bible teaches that God rescues us out of them all. Jesus warned His disciples that they would have trouble in this world, but encouraged them not to let their hearts be troubled. We may still experience pain, sorrow, dilemmas and trials of various kinds. But victory is certain in Christ. Let’s hang in there. _John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”__Acts 14:22 “…strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.”_Shalom children of God.

As goes the world…

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – NIV

Paul sought to remind the believers in Rome that the new sacrificial system required the offering of ourselves as sacrifices which are still alive. The old system required animal sacrifices for worship. In Christ, we are out of the world system and into God’s kingdom. The believer then is no longer to conform to the pattern of the world under it’s god the devil and it’s way of doing things because he no longer belongs to it.

Although we still live in the world, the Bible teaches that we do not belong to it. One sign of of a deteriorating relationship with God is going back and becoming part of the evil worldly system, and enjoying it. The backsliden believer does everything as the world does. As the world goes, so does he. There is no difference between them and a none believer in thought, word and deed.

Paul urged that the believer be transformed by the renewal of his mind so as to test and know God’s will to guide living to please God. This transformation is from the worldly system into godly thinking. When the church, individually and corporately, reflects more of the world and copying its ways, than reflect Christ and His kingdom principles, something has gone wrong. Returning to God through repentance needs to be emphasized.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”_ – NIV There are many people living with bottled up anger, unforgiveness, depression, feelings of injustice, rejection, and all related evils as a result of the circumstances they went through in life. They may ignore, or assume to have outgrown it, only to erupt at the slightest provocation along the way in life. The scripture above points to bitterness being a cause for trouble and defiling many. It can lead to ungodly behaviours and falling from grace. As previously noted, the disappointments and hurts of life are bound to come. As long as we are with people in this broken and fallen world, we shall always likely be hurt, consciously or not. Jesus said things that cause offence will always come (Luke 17:1-4). The hurts and disappointments, if not properly dealt with, create deep wounds/offences in the heart and soul. People may appear happy externally, and yet hurting deeply within. Such inner wounds are even more dangerous than physical wounds. They eat up the person from within.Additional signs of these wounds include aggression, outbursts of anger, irritability, hardened hearts, resignation and withdrawals, vengeance, depression, mental challenges, antisocial behaviours, lack of peace, and tendency towards violence. We usually assess people according such outward behaviours, but don’t ask why they do what they do. We would do well to find out as much as possible the hidden wounds in them and seek to help. _Colossians 3:8 “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 23:44-45 "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two."_ - NIV 

When Jesus died, these remarkable occurances happened; the sun stopped shining for 3hours and the curtain separating the holy place and holy of holies in the temple tore into two. The holy of holies housed the ark of the covenant (representing God’s presence) and only the high priest was allowed to visit there once every year. This meant access to God was limited under the old covenant. When Jesus died, that access was opened to all. The seperating curtain was torn. Now anyone can access God by the blood and the name of Jesus. We are His and accepted. Hallelujah!

Jesus’ blood reconciled man with God. Sin was the barrier, and created enemity between man and God, but Jesus’ blood and death took care of the sins of man. Now, even the vilest offender who truly believes, is cleansed and justified before a holy God. Reconciliation means renewed fellowship, no condemnation, and being at peace with God as He originally intended at creation. We can now boldly come before God by our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, not fearing that He will reject or condemn us.

Dear friends, in Christ we are at peace with God. We have freedom of expression and can experience His love to the fullest. We are His beloved children and He delights in our communion with Him. Do not allow the deception of the devil make you think like an alien to God your Father. Praise be to God. _

Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."