Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalms 68:1-2 "God rises up and scatters his enemies. Those who hate him run away in defeat. As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence." - GNB

The psalmist made a reflection of what happened when God was with them in the battle field. When God fought for them, it was sure victory. Their enemies, regardless of numbers and superior weapons, would be scattered in defeat just as smoke disappears with the wind, and wax freely melts with fire.

Our battles of life become much easier when God is in our midst and allowed to take control and lead. Challenges like huge mountains, troubles roaring like a stormy sea that wants to destroy us, all give way when God arises. Sometimes God seems too far and has left us alone. The enemy seems to be winning and our faith diminishes. It is not so. He will show up for you.

And when God arises, He clears all these and the huge mountains we face disappear, the storms raging against us immediately cease. When Jesus in the boat arose from sleep and rebuked the storm, it ceased immediately. The disciples had struggled alone to counter the storm in vain. You may have struggled alone for long using your knowledge and wisdom to solve problems. Now let God arise over your situation. And the enemy will scatter. And victory comes to you.

Mark 4:39-41 "Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you frightened? Have you still no faith?” But they were terribly afraid and said to one another, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." - NIV

Paul had raised many issues Timothy was to avoid and what to focus on. He had to be selective if he was to remain focused in ministry. There are battles to fight. Some are unnecessary because they lead us away from the faith. But the good ones we are to fight are those that sustain us in the faith and enable us take hold of eternal life to which we were called.

One war strategy is diversion of the enemy into what is trivial. While they concentrate on that, a major offensive attack is launched which throws them off balance and get defeated. Satan is a strategist using trickery. He has led many well meaning Christians into trivial and unnecessary fights against each other for things. They devour each other while the real enemy escapes! Those are not good fights.

Paul said he was not fighting like a boxer hitting the air. He knew where exactly to throw the punch. At the end of his life, he said he had fought the good fight and kept the faith. So many are punching the ‘air’ wasting alot of time and energy on what is worthless and doesn’t build them up. A battle is only worthwhile if it sustains you in the faith to the end. I pray God helps us to discern our battles, leave out what’s useless and focus on the worthwhile ones.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." - NIV

An armor is a protective defensive covering over the body from weapons while at the war front. No soldier goes to battle without being equipped with the full armor. We are in conflict, between satanic kingdom and God’s kingdom. Paul raises important points worth noting about the nature of our spiritual warfare in the scriptures above.

It takes strength from God. You can’t fight when you are weak. We have to put on the armor that God provides so as to take a stand against enemy schemes. Remember that the conflict is spiritual, primarily against spiritual various forms of demonic forces operating in heavenly realms, and not human beings. By putting on the full armor, you are preparing yourself for the evil day of attack. That evil day inevitably comes to everyone, like it or not.

The ultimate goal of this war is to stand. We fight to defend our territory and stand in the faith. The enemy aims at getting us out of it. It is in standing firm, contending for the faith and continuing steadfastly in it, that we remain with eternal life and inherit the kingdom of God. And having done all, to stand! Therefore, prepare for the evil day.

Jude 1:3 "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people…"

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…"

Paul used the picture of a Roman soldier in describing the spiritual armour. The soldier’s belt was not a fancy one, but a heavy duty belt which held the other parts of the armor together and in place. It held the sword. The truth known, lived by and spoken, is a powerful weapon against the devil who is a liar by nature. His mode of operation is deceit. The truth counters all the lies of the enemy, disarms him and sets people free to live and enjoy the liberty God gives to His children.

Everyone in the trap of Satan was netted through deception. Jesus described the devil as a liar from the begining with no truth found in him at all. When he speaks, deception is his objective. He manipulates his victims so well that they believe in his lies as truth. And they perish for that. Individuals of all walks of life without God are victims of deception.

The word of God is truth. Jesus,the Word incarnate, is the way the truth and the life. Being in Christ is being in the truth. In Him is no lies, because God doesn’t lie. Truth stands the test of time. No amount of lies can destroy it. Therefore, to be in the truth is to abide forever. Choose to live in the truth despite the so much lies in our world today.

3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…" - NIV

The Roman soldier wore a brass metallic breastplate over the chest area in the front and back, just as bullet proof vests are worn by soldiers today. This was meant to protect the heart and the lungs, being vital organs. Other body parts may be injured, but with higher chances of survival. But not the heart and vital organs. In protecting it, the soldiers protected their lives. Out of the heart come the issues of life.

Righteousness, (a state of right standing with God that comes by faith in Christ), is a protector of our hearts. Paul adds that the breastplate is faith and love(1 Thes 5:8). These character qualities guard our spirits from condemnation of the enemy, the accuser of the brethren. No one who lives in doubt, hate, guilt and condemnation can be victorious. By keeping the breastplate in place, we defeat all such arrows of the devil targeting our hearts.

Righteousness also means integrity, holiness, purity of life and sincerity. Lack of these leaves a person unguarded and exposed to enemy assaults and defeat. Scripture and the contemporary world is full of examples of great people who fell victims of the devils tricks because of lack of integrity. None of our good works without God makes us righteous, but only faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life."

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:15 "…and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace." - GNB

Shoes were an important and integral part of the soldiers armour. Without it, there is no ground stability to engage, and ability to pursue and defeat the enemy in war. Battles are fought in all sorts of places; bushes, thickets, rough, slippery, rocky, flat, hilly terrains. Proper shoes grip and withstand all these to keep the soldier fighting.

The gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ that we declare to humanity is a powerful weapon against the enemy who has held them captive. Paul describes it as the power of God to save. So many are in bondage, lost, hopeless and groaning under their task master, Satan. They need to be freed. And the gospel is the only means by which men who hear and believe can be delivered and saved.

Jesus’ mission was to set the captives free, to seek and save the lost. He went everywhere preaching and healing. He gave us the same mission. We accomplish it by preaching the good news of the gospel; that Jesus saves. We should not be ashamed of the gospel. It is a life giving liberation message, and part of our warfare to rescue men from the devil’s grip. Keep preaching it.

Romans 1:16 "I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:16 "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." - NIV

A shield is a key defensive weapon in battle. It deflects the arrows, rocks, sword or spear directed at the soldier. Without it, the soldier is very susceptible to every flaming shot. Just as a shield is to the soldier, so is faith to the believer in spiritual warfare.

The evil one is ever shooting arrows of hopelessness, frustration, doubt, hate, revenge, etc at us. Once our faith in Jesus is in place and unshaken, all those arrows won’t affect us. They are deflected away. Satan’s aim is to cause things that will affect our faith and so be displaced from its position. These include fear and doubt which don’t exist with faith. The battle is to strengthen faith to displace fear and doubt.

Ever been in a position where the same things you had overcome and would eadily ignore, now get into your heart and make you fearful and emotional? It means likely the shield of faith is getting displaced and the enemy’s arrows are hitting at you. Solution is to build up your faith constantly by feeding on the word, prayer and other devotional practices. These keep faith in place and you remain victorious in battle.

1 John 5:4-5 "…because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

Jude 1:20 "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…"

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:17 "Take the helmet of salvation…"

The Roman soldiers, just like today’s soldiers, wore helmets on their heads to protect the head. The head contains vital organs like the eyes, ears, mouth and brain for the coordination and functioning of the human being. The brain is central to the working of the whole body through stability, thinking, coordination and decision making and action.

Every battle is won or lost first in the mind. Actual transformation of a person is in the mind. Attitude which determines behavior is in the mind. Strongholds and beliefs that hold people captive are in the mind. Decisions to change is in the mind. Whatever people say or do, comes through the mind. Given such importance of the mind, it is critical that it is protected, because once the head is damaged, you die

There is alot that bombards our minds. Seive it. The gospel truth that brings salvation, fed into the mind will transform and align our beliefs and thinking to God’s ways and mind. What you belief, you speak and act on. Deliberately let God’s word fill your mind and transform your thought pattern, speech, action, and life. Reject what is not of God. That’s the secret to a victorious life over the enemy.

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform 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."

Shalom children of God