Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 26:52-54 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”_ – NIV When Peter drew his sword to fight the arresters of Jesus, Jesus quickly told him to put it back. It was not time to fight back. And the use of the sword was not the way to fight back. Humanly and logically speaking, Peter felt duty bound to defend his Master. But Jesus brings another perspective to it. He had ability to call for twelve legions of angels to come and fight for Him. But He couldn’t because what was happening was in fulfillment of the Scriptures.There are things that happen to us and in the world to fulfill what God has decreed in His Word long before they happen. Our human wisdom will want to find ways out. At such moments, resisting these things is resisting God’s will. This requires that we get to understand that what is happening has been allowed by God in fulfillment of His Word. In that case, we yield to His will. It also requires identifying masquerading satanic forces taking advantage which should be resisted and fought. So true and final is God’s predetermined purpose and will that the best we can do is align with it. Jesus throughout His life knew and submitted to it. Our ignorance of God’s Word and ways can be a set back in life and spiritual warfare. We end up fighting battles we shouldn’t, or reacting when we should be holding our peace, and letting God have His way. Many times it may go against common logic, but in the end it will proof to be the right way. He is God!_Matthew 22:29 “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”__John 19:28 “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” – NIV

We all want to be sure that what we believe or proclaim for others to believe is truth we are convinced about. John starts his letter by affirming that the gospel message about Jesus they are preaching is not hear say. They saw Jesus, talked with Him, sat with and touched Him. They were therefore first hand witnesses that truly Jesus is real, and is the light, Who gives eternal life. On the basis of this credible witness, we too can believe.

This letter was written to counter many false teachings that sought to deny the deity of Jesus and His physical appearance. Over the years, this deception would get worse and heretics would use it to water down the authenticity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as a myth. But the gospel is not a myth, but real.

To date we proclaim the same gospel that Jesus is the light, the Word of life, and Savior. Because He lives, He still saves, gives eternal life to those who believe in Him. Because He lives, each of us can have first hand experience with Him today through forgiveness of sin, healing touch and saving experience. The gospel we proclaim is authentic, because Jesus is still alive.

Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 14:16-18 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

As Jesus continued to reassure His troubled disciples, He promised to ask the Father to give another advocate, the comforter, the Holy Spirit. He would help and be with them the same way Jesus had been doing. The disciples felt like orphans, left and unattended to by the physical departure of Jesus. They imagined the loneliness, the vulnerability from suffering and attacks of their enemies.

Fear, loneliness, rejection, vulnerability and feelings of abandonment affect us similarly today. Our hearts get broken by various situations of life. We hurt and go through pain. All such situations make our hearts cry out for the warmth of comfort and support. The ministry of the Holy Spirit extends to cater for our comfort needs today. There is so much this world throws at us. Jesus said we would face trouble in the world (John 16:33).

The Holy Spirit presence in every believer gives the comfort that cushions us from the devastating effects of the stresses and challenges of life. He is present all the time with us. He wants to commune with us, assure us God’s care, presence, protection and provision. This is what peacefully settles our hearts despite the storms and troubles of life. Trust Him always. He is present with you.

Matthew 28:20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 16:8-11 “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”_ – NIV To the none believer in Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict about sin, their need to find the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus, and the fact that judgement will follow for those who reject this offer of salvation from sin through Jesus Christ. Conviction is that deep inner voice within a person, showing them what is right or wrong and what they need to do about it. Every human being gets this conviction within them, especially as they hear the gospel preached. What they do about it is dependent on them in exercise of the freedom of will and choice God gave man.Those who obey that conviction of the Holy Spirit feel remorseful about their sins and come to God in repentance. The Spirit does not convict to condemn, but to correct our ways and bring us to God. This is what leads to conversion of the sinner, enabling them come to Christ to recieve salvation. Those who reject this conviction only harden their hearts more and more. Every preaching of the gospel is used by the Holy Spirit to bring people to that point of decision for Christ or rejecting Him.To the believer, the Holy Spirit uses the word to correct, rebuke, teach and train (2 Tim 3:16). When we make mistakes, He brings us back to the right way through repentance. Again, the conviction is not to condemn, but to correct, to discipline so that we are fully walking by the way pleasing to God. Some still disobey and harden their hearts to this work of the Spirit. But we are urged not to harden our hearts when He convicts us. To those who continuously and outrightly reject Him, judgment will be inevitable. _Hebrews 3:7-8,15 “So then, as the Holy Spirit says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God, as they were that day in the desert when they put him to the test… This is what the scripture says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were     when they rebelled against God.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 3:16-17″All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – NIV

To correct is to make right or set in order what has gone wrong. It’s about showing right as differentiated from wrong. We are all prone to error one way or another, and therefore all of us need to be corrected. Correction has a basis, a standard of what is generally considered right. Since God’s word is flawless, being the truth from God Who does not lie, it forms the basis of any meaningful correction for right living. Good national laws are derived from principles of Scripture whether indicated so it not.

Satan is a liar, and operates on deception. Even the truth of Scripture he may bring out is distorted to suit his interests of diverting people from God as he wanted to do to Jesus. This is the root and basis of all errors, some of which come in God’s name! It is therefore of paramount importance that we get the truth of God’s word richly dwelling in us so as to escape the lies and deception of Satan, the god of this wicked world. The word, richly dwelling in us, keeps correcting the mistakes we make and lies we encounter daily in life as it shows us the right way.

Whoever rejects correction of Scripture and insists on their own way rejects God. The wise man said fools are always right in their own eyes! (Prov 12:15). God’s aim of correction is to bring us back and keep us on the right truck and so avoid falling into error and eventual destruction if we harden our hearts. As you read or listen to the word of God rightly interpreted and applied, allow it in humility, to correct your ways.

Hebrews 12:5-6 “Have you forgotten the encouraging words which God speaks to you as his sons and daughters? “My child, pay attention when the Lord corrects you,   and do not be discouraged when he rebukes you. Because the Lord corrects everyone he loves,     and punishes everyone he accepts as his child.””

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Acts 1:8 “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – NIV_ The disciples asked whether on Jesus’ return He would restore the kingdom of Israel. But Jesus told them it wasn’t their business to follow that up, but they would become His witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth. They would witness through their transformed lives and the preaching of the gospel. This power is for His glory, not for our fame.The Holy Spirit empowers us to live the God kind of life. None of us in our human abilities can, even for a moment, overcome sin, defeat the devil, practice righteousness and holiness, manifest the fruit of the Spirit and live victorious in Christ. It’s all by His grace and the enabling work of the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus did all He did. He went everywhere doing good, because God was Him. After the disciples were filled with the Spirit, they became powerful witnesses for God wherever they went.The Spirit empowers by bringing us to decision to follow Christ, bringing others to Him, overcoming the lusts of the flesh and the demonic influences, guiding us to do God’s will and leading us to intimate communion in our relationship with God. He drives out fear, guilt and negative forces that want to pull us back, giving us confidence to walk with God. He makes this walk so real, revealing the treasure, assuring of His continual presence so sweet that we would desire nothing more. With this, we can surmount any challenge as we serve Him. Others will see it want to experience the same. _Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.””__John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 3:19-21 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” – NIV

Jesus was responding to Nichodemus in his dilemma of what it means to be born again. He is the light and truth of the world. But people still reject the light and truth because they prefer to continue in their evil ways. This is a key reason behind people refusing to come to God and walk in the light. They may claim to be free outside God, but in reality, they are in bondage to their evil ways.

No one does what is evidently evil openly and freely except for those who have killed their conscience over time. It’s the reason evil is hatched in secret and in the cover of darkness. Because the conscience is accusing the person, they try to run away from the truth by hiding evil. And that is futile. There is no greater slavery than to one’s conscience. You cant run away from it. It’s always with you. But if one is walking in the light and truth, there is no shame or need to hide or cover up things. Truth liberates and puts us at ease.

Jesus is the truth. All in Him are set free from the accusing conscience. Many are living in so much internal torment unknown to those around them. They cover up these feelings with artificial smiles, much activity, doing good works, but still not free within. The remedy is to come God as you are, allow Him cleanse your evil ways, so that you are truly free both within in your conscience and externally. There will be no fear.

John 8:32 “…Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”_ – NIV The current worldly system is under the influence of Satan, the god of this present age. Paul notes that one of the key things Satan does is to prevent people from understanding and believing the gospel. He blinds their minds so that they cannot see the light of the gospel and so believe. This is what makes people reject the gospel, its truth, justice and righteousness, and instead accept lies, dishonesty and all sorts of evil.Satan being the god of the worldly system has his principles of engagement and operation. Except for openly satanic ways, most of these worldly patterns are part of ordinary life activities and relationships but demonically influenced. Many, including believers, don’t even realise that what they are engaged in is of the enemy the devil. And that is how the gospel gets veiled and rejected by those who are perishing.The subtle working of the devil behind these worldly systems requires discernment and spiritual warfare. We wage war against these powers of evil influencing people to do evil. And the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to defeat all demonic forces and bringing people under the influence of the Holy Spirit to believe and accept Christ, do good and bring glory to God. Our prayer then is against demonic forces and schemes blinding people from God. We are not fighting with human beings, but spirits behind them. _Ephesians 6:11-12 “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.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…”_ – NIV To the believers in the church of Ephesus for whom Paul was thankful, he realised there was alot more they needed to know about God and their relationship with Him. To achieve this, Paul prayed for two things; that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and for enlightenment of their inner eyes of the spirit. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom and revelation, and enlightens our understanding of the deep things of God. Once this happened, they would know God better, understand the hope they have been called to, the glorious inheritance that belongs to them in Christ, and the immeasurable power of God at work in them. That’s the same power that resurrected Jesus from death. There are so many believers with a very shallow knowledge of the God they have believed. They have no idea what glorious hope awaits them, and what great power resides in them. That’s why many give up.The Holy Spirit reveals these things to us. Once we understand, nothing can shake us from the faith. We can exercise the power of the Lord against all forms demonic forces, and our hope will firmly establish us in the Lord. There is so much God has for those in Him. The reason some get shaken and abandon their walk with God for temporary pleasures is that they have not known the treasures of their relationship with God. Only corporate with the Holy Spirit and He will reveal these to you. After that, the treasurs and glories of this world will be nothing in comparison. _Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…”__1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen,  what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”_Shalom children of God.