Category: Daily Devotionals

Reconciled with access to 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 into His presence. 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 a stranger 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."

Shalom children of God.  Happy Easter

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

1 Kings 11:12-13 "Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." - NIV

Solomon had fallen into disobedience to God and broken the covenant God made with his father David. God was displeased and threatened to tear the kingdom into two in punishment. But He said it would not happen in his time. The magnitude of Solomon’s sin, which followed with the other kings, warranted complete cut off of the kingdom from him and David’s line. But two factors made God to relent from doing so.

God had made a covenant and vowed to David that his house would not miss a king – upto Christ. God cannot break His sworn covenant. Likewise, the life of David so impressed and moved God that for his sake, God wouldn’t release His full wrath on Israel. David was a man after God’s heart. He became a reference point of comparison for all other kings who came after him. In the two verses above, and other portions of scripture, God talked about him.

Such are the men and women who live lives that move God so much so that for their sake and intercessory intervention, God will relent from doing, or actually do certain things. They are His true servants after God’s heart, who shape destinies of individuals and nations of people. They move heaven and shake hell. They carry the authority of God and are the reason certain things happen. Anyone of us can develop our relationship with God to such levels. I pray you become one such person!

Exodus 33:17 "And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 27:13 "[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."- KJV

Life’s journey is not straight. One time you are at the mountain top and everything is alright. Another time you are at the valley and things seem to be falling apart. One time there are friends all around. And in another no one seems to care. You seem to be all alone. This fluctuations go beyond the individual to families, communities and nations.

God operates in seasons and times. That’s how things are. David acknowledged that if he had not believed in hope for better times ahead, he would have given up on living, given what he was going through. This happens to us many times when the storms of life beat, situations so tough and stressful come our way, and thoughts of quiting endeavours or even dying, cross one’s mind. Thank God, these situations are not the end of the story, however dire they may be. In God, blossoming life can be rebuilt out of the rubble and ashes.

It’s so encouraging that amidst all the ups and downs and uncertainities of life, God, in Whom we trust and hope, doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). He is God in the good and bad times. He remains a good and faithful God in the mountain top and in the dark lonely valleys. Our faith and hope should rest in Him. Men in their abilities may fail. Our businesses, investments, treasures and all we may rely on can fail.

But God doesn’t. And this hope in God doesn’t disappoint. It will be well at the end. There is hope for a better tomorrow, however bad today is. Do not quit your endeavors. Hold on to faith in an unchanging, faithful God. There is light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Psalms 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Shalom children of God.

The integrity of God (10/6/2023)

2 Timothy 2:11-13 "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

Our relationship with God is is conditioned on certain things we need to do so that God does His part. Paul states some of them here. We can only live with Him if we choose to die with Him. We can only reign with Him if we endure suffering for His sake. He remains faithful to Himself and His commitments even if we loose faith. Paul says this is a trustworthy saying we can rely on.

God cannot disown Himself. He doesn’t shift like changing shadows. He is faithful to what He says. The trials of faith, the changing desires, dreams, plans and attitudes of men may change over time. Some get overtaken by the pleasures of the world, driven by circumstances of life and change their minds even on God. But God remains Who He says He is regardless of our feelings. Men are driven by feelings.

The integrity of God is founded on His never changing character. David said one of the qualities of abiding in God’s presence is being true to our commitments. That’s integrity. Reliability is grossly lacking in many who profess God’s name because the character of God has not been fully formed in them. Let’s be people of integrity and so reflect the character of the God we claim to belong.

Psalm 15:1,4 "Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? … who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind…"

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 6:49-51 "…but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed…" - NIV

Just imagine the state the disciples were in. It’s the fourth watch of the night (3-6am). They are struggling against a wave and not made progress for several hours. And then a human-like being comes towards them walking on the water as if he wants to pass them by. All of them saw this ‘ghost’ and were terrified at what would happen next. Knowing how scared they were, Jesus immediately spoke up and told them, “Its I. Don’t be afraid.”

How encouraging those words were to them! From extreme fear in a hopeless situation to complete relief that their Master and Lord had appeared in their hour of greatest need. Many are the situations of life that leave us confused, helpless, making very little or no progress because of the forces against us and things not working out. Our God does not leave us that way throughout. He knows and comes to our rescue. Some of the ways He comes may initially scare, being unfamiliar, as if to make an already bad situation worse as the disciples thought.

When God steps into our situations in ways we least expected and speaks, He brings peace. He never intends to worsen an already bad situation. He says,”It’s I. Don’t be afraid.” As Jesus stepped into the boat, the waves stopped and there was immediate calm. And they immediately reached their destination. Call unto the Lord in your hopeless situation in a troublesome world, alone without much progress. And it shall be well. He speaks peace to His own.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Shalom children of God.

He took my place in death!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 23:24-25, 32 "So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will… Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed." - NIV

That was the vehement demand of the priests, elders, teachers of the law and the section of the crowd they had incited against Jesus. It was a custom to release someone in that period. Until then, they found no charge against Jesus. He was innocent, but they were determined to get rid of Him. But Barabas, whom they asked to be released, was a known notorious criminal, a rioter  and murderer.

So they wanted  a murderer released back to society and a blameless Savior, healer,  teacher, Prophet, the Son of God executed by crucifixion, a punishment Barabas rightly deserved! Jesus took his place and Barabas indeed went free!

That’s what Jesus came to do for us all. All mankind had sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standard  (Rom 3:23). As by law, the soul that sins must die (Ezekiel 18:20) because the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). Since man had sinned, he deserved to die, and eternally.

But Jesus came and died the death everyone of us deserved, like a criminal. He took our place in death so that we, guilty as we were like Barabas, would go free and obtain eternal life. What an exchange! What a love!

In Christ therefore, we are free, no longer guilty, accepted, reconciled and at peace with God. This offer is available to all people who place their faith in Christ. How can you turn down such a love?!

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Shalom children of God. Happy Easter

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

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 19:14 "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

To meditate is to deeply think through something to gain further understanding and to make it part of you. David thought about how the creation speaks about God. He meditated about the word of God. As he pondered over these things, his prayer was that whatever he meditated upon, and spoke, would be pleasing to God.

Everyone is always thinking about something. These could be great progressive ideas, or horrible unhealthy, evil and destructive thoughts. What people eventually speak comes from the meditations in the heart. Watch the kind of thoughts going on in your mind. We can sieve and accept or reject them.

Fill your mind with the word of God and meditate on that. It contains thoughts for every aspect of life. It will make you think what pleases God and progressive to yourself. Ultimately, consciously or not, you not only speak, but become what you meditate upon in your life.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Shalom children of God