Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." - NIV

No sooner had Jesus been taken up to heaven in His first coming, than the angels announce His second coming. He had mentioned that He would return. His revelation message to John concludes with the same warning; "… Yes, i am coming soon… " (Rev 22:20).

Although He gave no dates, Jesus gave signs that would point to His coming. Bible prophecy and world events confirm these signs we see in the world today. It’s prophecy in fulfillment right before us. Watch out!

Jesus is not coming as the humble Savior again, but as Judge, and to consumate all things as He takes His church home. We are called upon to be ready for His coming. To those who mock and despise this warning, it will be a sad day. But to those who eagerly look forward to it, it will be a glorious day of great joy.

If He came now, would He find you ready? While there is still room, beloved, give your life to Jesus, mend your ways and purpose to live in holiness before it’s too late.

Do not allow the trivialities and the fleeting pleasures of this life distract you and you miss that day. Some mockingly question His 'soon' coming. Jesus' seeming delay is out of great love, to give everyone a chance to repent, be saved and not perish (2 Peter 3:9).
 
"So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matt 24:44)
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:44-36).

Jesus is coming back!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Corinthians 15:14,16-18 "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost." - NIV

Paul dedicated this chapter to teach about the resurrection: of Christ as first fruits and ours too. He argues why this determines the authenticity of the gospel and hope of our faith. If Christ never shed His blood, died and rose from the dead, then our preaching is useless and we are to be pitied of all people. We would still be in our sins. But He did, and so the gospel is authentic, despite all attempts of satan to distort it through deception.

Sins are forgiven by Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. That’s the basis of our faith and hope; that Jesus died and rose in triumphant victory over sin, the devil and death. It means those who live and die in Him have the same hope, that they shall rise with Him. He declared that He was dead, but now alive (Rev 1:18 ) never to be defeated or die again. Paul says this hope made him face severe trials with hope whether in death or life.

There will be a resurrection of all who died. The righteous will rise to everlasting life in glorious peace and joy. The wicked will rise to eternal damnation and gnashing of teeth in extreme pain because they rejected the Savior. Physical death is not the end. While there is still time in this body, we all have a chance to mend our ways and be reconciled to God our Maker. Then can we have a living hope at the resurrection, that we shall spend eternity with God.

John 5:28-29 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 3:12-13 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

The context of these verses is about entering God’s rest, with a warning against unbelief which can hinder entry to this rest. Its God’s will that we rest in total trust and reliance on Him. Whatever labour ensues as a result, should be as God instructs for His service to His glory, and not to impress and win His favor. Many labour to attain what God has already provided for us and can be achieved by faith.

To this effect, the brothers were encouraged to ensure that none of them had a sinful unbelieving heart which manifests in turning away from God through unbelief. They were to achieve this by encouraging one another daily. The more one continues in sin and unbelief, the more their hearts are hardened to the truth of God. Over time, they are no longer responsive to the truth.

Decietfulness of sin comes over time through unbelief. Sin is deceptive. It promises pleasure, happiness and peace, but gives misery, trouble and restlessness. As a person continues in it, they get entangled, bound and hard hearted towards God. In that state of sin’s misery, you can never know God’s rest, because there is no peace to the wicked. Don’t be deceived by the temporary pleasures of sin. Its end is painful. Learn from Moses;

"He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." (Heb 11:25)

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.""

Man is a spirit (or innerman also called the heart), with the soul (the seat of emotions, thoughts and decisions) and the body which houses the soul and spirit. The spirit is the real person which connects with the spirit world and influences the soul, and the body implements the decisions. The heart of the unregenerated man is controlled and influenced by Satan and his demons. It is very deceitful and without cure, unless God comes in to change it.

At the point of turning to Christ, the heart is given over to Jesus Who saves the person and becomes the Lord. Henceforth, the direction, thoughts, control and decisions of the person are guided by the Lordship of Jesus. The Agent of this transformation and translation from the kingdom of darkness under the devil, to the kingdom of light under Jesus, is the Holy Spirit Whom God places in everyone who comes to salvation in Christ. Because man still retains the will to choose and decide, the Holy Spirit works with the person’s willing corporation to effect this change.

The unconverted heart is desperately wicked and deceitful, reflecting the nature of its master, Satan. The devil will still attempt to manipulate the thoughts and decisions of even the believer in Christ. Some will totally be convinced they are doing God’s will, and yet clearly promoting satanic schemes! Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, to deceive even the elect. Who is incharge of your heart? Allow God, the searcher of the motives and intentions of every man’s heart, to be in control so as to escape the deception of Satan.

Matthew 15:7-9 "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

Shalom children of God. 

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Chronicles 21:19-20 "In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people made no funeral fire in his honor, as they had for his predecessors… He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings." - NIV

Johoram succeeded his father, Jehoshaphat, as king. He was described as doing evil in the eyes of God, going in the footsteps of Ahab king of Israel. He killed all his own brothers and other officials. God was not happy. He sent Elijah who wrote a letter (probably it wasnt safe to physically meet him) condemning his evil activities and ensuing punishment. He suffered a long painful illness and died.

No honour was given to him in death. No one felt pity nor missed him. While some people, for the positive impact they make in other people’s lives, are greatly mourned and honoured in death, some pass on to no regret as good riddance. This was the case with Jehoram. He had been a disaster and his death brought joy and peace.

In the journey of life, we all leave foot marks behind that inspire or make others regret our existence. This is brought about by what we do to others, and how we treat them. Jesus said, do to others what you want them do to you. If everyone lived with this consciousness and committed to loving others, life would be praceful and joyous. That’s God’s will. Such is a life that lives on in people’s hearts long after you are gone.

One day we shall be out of the scene. Will others miss you or it will be good riddance? How will your script be read?

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Numbers 12:1-3 "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)"

Moses had married an Ethiopian woman. But Aaron and Miriam talked against Moses, starting from criticising his marriage. But soon, it became clear the issue was not the woman he married, but a jealousy and bitterness in their hearts against Moses’ privileged position to hear God. The woman issue just became an opening to reveal actual reason they hated Moses their very brother.

This is a reality in the opposition and fights people have against each other. They may front one reason, but soon go into the real issues they are angry about. Some of these is out of envy for their privileges, hidden pride, and all other evils long kept in the heart. They may be exaggerated and blown out of proportion. When you relate responses to the issues portrayed, they don’t match.

Understanding the actual reasons behind the fights gives a better approach to respond. Moses, the humblest man on earth, left matters in God’s hand, and God quickly showed on his behalf. Sometimes its pointless to fight back because matters may be made worse, but leave matters to God who knows the truth. Jesus did it against those who falsely accused Him of other things, and yet the actual reason was that their fame was threatened. You may appear like a loser, not defending yourself, but the God of truth, justice and righteousness will in the end defend and justify you.

Mark 15:3-5 "The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 2:25-26 "Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations--" - NIV

Jesus addressed the seven churches in Asia Minor. To each of them, He pointed out and recognised what they did well, and what they were not doing well and needed to repent. The message in the scriptures above was to the church in Thyatira where some had comprised with teachings encouraging sexual immorality among servants of God. But to those who had not, Jesus encouraged them to hold on to what they already had till the end.

Consistency is an important virtue in remaining true to the faith. As time goes on, some form of ‘new revelations’ come in the name of the Lord using His word, trying to justify some evil and mislead many as it happened in Thyatira. Jesus, while responding to the end time question, warned His disciples against deception (Matt 24:4). He said many would come in His name, doing miracles and trying to sway people to themselves and out of the will of God.

 Jesus promised overcomers, those who would hold on to His will to the end, authority over the nations. There is a raging battle over your soul and the eternal truth of God, to dilute, add to or subtract from it, and to make it ‘fit’ into the times we live in. Paul called these waves and winds of teachings and cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Eph 4:14). They have swayed many people. But we are called to consistently stick to God’s will to the end. This means watching out for, being alert and contending against what wants to compromise God’s will as the serpent did to Eve.

2 Timothy:4.3 -4 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." - NIV

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - NIV

Attitude is the way we see, think, perceive and decide about people, situations and things. This is going on every minute within every person about every situation and people, consciously or not. Eventually, it influences the quality of our lives and destinies because as a man thinks so is he (Proverbs 27:3). Training helps to reorient and channel attitudes in a particular way. That’s what Paul is saying in our opening scripture.

Before one is in Christ, there are customs and norms that shape attitudes in their way of life as they were taught. When we come to God’s kingdom, our pattern of thinking changes to be like God in righteousness and holiness. Everything is new, the old nature and its patterns have gone. Henceforth, our attitude is to be like that of Jesus Himself (Phil 2:5-9). This transformation and renewal process is done by the Holy Spirit, resident in the believer.

Whatever we are, how we see, hear, think, decide, relate and respond to people, situations and things is a reflection of our attitudes. Victory or defeat, love or hate, success or failure are in attitudes. Let your life be so immersed in God and His word, that whatever attitude follows and manifests out of you is godly. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…“

Romans 12:2 "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."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 13:15-16 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." - NIV

The writer compares the sacrificial system of the old testament which involved animal sacrifices, and the new covenant involving the Lamb of God, Jesus. Those sacrifices were to be offered in a particular way to be acceptable to God as part of covenant relationship and worship. We no longer offer animal sacrifices. Jesus did that once and for all. By His shed blood and the sacrifice of Himself, He sealed the covenant.

Through faith in Jesus, we are now to continually and openly offer sacrifice of praise from our lips. Additionally, we are to do good and share our possessions with others in need. By this, we extend the compassionate heart of God to His people. Done with sincere hearts and to the glory of God, such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

The psalmist said God’s praise would continually be in his mouth. In all situations at all times, let our hearts and mouths be full of sincere praises to God Almighty. Let’s share with those in need. This is our worship. It pleases God.

Psalm 34:1 "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."

1 John 3:17-18 "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo.

Luke 10:22-23 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." - NIV

As Jesus celebrated the successful mission of the seventy two He sent out, He stated that knowledge of God only comes through revelation. By revelation, we see things differently and better, from God’s perspective. What had been revealed to the disciples had not been seen even by the prophets and kings before, much as they longed to see the coming of the Messiah. But even with the Messiah around, many still couldn’t see! They were blind.

Some of the things we get to understand as revealed are not obvious to those not in Christ. They are revealed by the Holy Spirit to those who have submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. They are spiritual things, discerned by the spiritually alive and sensitive. How beautiful it is to see things from God’s view point. It makes the whole world of difference and gives much clarity to life. I pray you never get contended until you get there!

Some are still blind in their minds by the god of this world, the devil. They have eyes but dont see what God is doing, and the signs of the times. Some of those in Christ are still blind to the deeper things God is doing, one reason for their superficial relationship with God. To those who have eyes that see, blessed are you! To those who lack spiritual sight, you can ask God, like blind Bartimaues cried to Jesus to see, and as Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have the eyes of their hearts opened. There is a vast world of great spiritual riches and treasures only known to those who can see!

Mark 10:51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

Ephesians 1:18 "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…"

Shalom children of God.