Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 37:9 "Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." - NIV

Joseph had had great dreams as a boy. They pointed to his elder brothers and his parents bowing down to him in honour. But the attempts by his brothers to kill him, selling him to the Ismaelites, being resold in Egypt, falsely accused by Portiphar’s wife, dumped and forgotten in prison – shattered his dreams. It was as if they would never come to pass again as he struggled to be free. Over twenty years later, they were fulfilled when his brothers bowed down before him as prime minister in Egypt.

Life situations can sometimes hit so hard and seem to completely shatter the dreams we had. When this happens, all hope of ever seeing our dreams fulfilled vanishes. But what God created us to be cannot just be erased. Dreams from God never die despite all the fights as long as we remain in His will. Joseph forgot his dreams, but God was working all things to align them to the fulfillment of the dream.

The devil knows the potential effect of our God given dreams and fights to destroy them. Dreams are very powerful. When they die, people lose direction in life and die. That’s why Joseph’s brothers, under satan’s influence, said they would kill him and see what would become of his dreams (Gen 37:20). The devil was after killing his dreams. Don’t give up your dreams. In case they appear to have died, God is able to raise them again and bring them to pass.

Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 93:1-2 "The Lord is king. He is clothed with majesty and strength. The earth is set firmly in place  and cannot be moved. Your throne, O Lord, has been firm from the beginning, and you existed before time began." - GNB

God the Almighty, is King over all His creation. His throne is high, all powerful and glorious, greater than any throne that could be established and is firm forever. When Isaiah saw Him at His throne, he was overwhelmed. The earth is only a small portion of His entire domain. He fills and controls the universe.

A king has a kingdom, the authority and power, the throne, and subjects who execute his will as they reign on his behalf. Every earthly kingship is an imitation and a physical manifestation of the spiritual kingdoms they subscribe to, and from whom their authority is derived.

God is King over His kingdom. The believers are the extension of His reign and derive power and authority from God. Jesus said all authority in heaven and on earth was given to Him, and He in turn gave it to the disciples to go and make disciples and reign on God’s behalf. In Christ, we reign in God’s kingdom, as His ambassadors to the world. Let’s truly be a reflection and extension of His reign in truth, justice and righteousness in an evil dark world. We have the rights and power to.

Psalm 89:13-14 "Your arm is endowed with power;  your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 17:27-28 "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." - NIV

We respond to situations of life by the words we speak and the actions we take. The wise man notes that knowledge guides our choice of words. It’s our understanding that enables control of temper so that we don’t just burst out and do more harm. It takes discernment and wisdom to sometimes keep silent instead of speak and make things worse.

We need this wisdom everyday in life because of the many things that come our way as we interact with people and circumstances of life. Some are false accusations that push us to the limits. It is one of the devil’s schemes to provoke us to anger so as to speak what he can use as a loophole against us. The Pharisees and teachers of the law provoked Jesus to speak in attempt to trap Him using His own words. But Jesus kept quiet or wisely chose His words in reply.

May God give us knowledge, wisdom, understanding and discernment at all times to know when and what to speak, how to say it, and when to be silent. May we be quick to hear and slow to speak in anger. Such an approach will save us alot more trouble, give us peace and disarm the enemy. If our words will add no value or cause more trouble, we rather be silent.

Mark 12:13 "Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words…"

James 1:19-20 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

The author of this letter had just taught about the importance of faith, its accomplishments and those who endured and did great things by faith. They were ahead of us, stood in the faith amidst very severe trials, and are now our witnesses, cheering us on to endure to the end. The Christian journey of faith is compared to a number of life endeavors. In this case, it’s compared to a race.

In a race track, every competitor has a marked out lane or route they are expected to follow. If they cross the lines, they are disqualified. Likewise, our race, in the time and actual assignments to accomplish in our generation have been marked out for us. We are responsible to God for what happens in our lanes for the time we are here. Those who were here before us, or will come after, are responsible for theirs. God made each for his time to accomplish specific purposes. He makes no mistakes and gives grace for the purpose.

The challenges in the race necessitates running with perseverance and focus on Jesus. There are temptations to be diverted or give up, but the great cloud of witnesses who overcame and went ahead are cheering us on, the same way competitors in a physical race are cheered by their funs and supporters. May we all run to the end to win the prize and be recieved by our Master with a ‘welldone good and faithful servant’ grand reception. Nothing in all the world will compare with this joy! And so shall we share in the joy of our Master forever.

Revelation 2:10 "…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 21:34 "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." - NIV

Jesus was concluding the teaching on the signs of the end. He had mentioned many things that would characterize the end. These include increase in deception, false christs, wars and revolutions, earthquakes, pestilences, famines, fearful signs in the heavens, increase of evil, moral degeneration, persecutions among others. Anyone following world events can testify that these are present day realities around the world. It means we are in those last days.

In the scripture above, Jesus warned His disciples (including us) about the things that could make them miss out on the day of His return. These are; dissipation/carousing (too much fun, wasteful spending for pleasure), drunkenness (out of alcohol or improper behaviour out of excitement or anger over things) and the cares of life (fear or nervousness out of what might happen). These things dull one’s sensitivity, alertness and readiness to the coming of the Lord. That’s why Jesus warned us to be careful not to let them weigh our hearts down, or else the day of the Lord will catch us unexpectedly.

Friends, Jesus is coming soon. Every sign is pointing to it. As we do what is required of us by the demands of life, let’s look beyond to the imminent return of Christ. Be alert, do not allow fear, pleasure, anxieties of life weigh you down and dull your sensitivity to the times we are in. Watch the signs and expectantly look up for His coming. It will be well in the Lord.

Luke 12:40,46 "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."… The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 1:14-16 "… and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." - NIV

The woman Hannah had had no children. Her cowife Penninah, took advantage and tormented her every year. Even the consolation of her husband Elkana could not help. After yet another bout of provocation by Penninah while in Shiloh, she couldn’t bear it any more. In bitterness and heaviness of heart, she went to the temple to pour out her heart to God. The priest Eli, seated at the temple watched this woman silently pray with only her lips moving and no words coming out. He mistook her to be drunk.

In life we meet and see people who, according to us, behave weird, appear uncultured and many times quickly pass judgment over them. Yet if we took time to understand why they behave so, we would be seeking to help them instead. There are many troubled wounded hearts around us, pushed to the extremes of life by the circumstances they face. Many are rejected, wounded, hopeless and challenged in ways we could provide a listening ear, prayer or material support or give godly counsel. Even the priest Eli was too quick and mistaken to judge a troubled Hannah, thinking she was drunk. But on listening and understanding her, he blessed her.

We misjudge others many times because we dont seek to first understand why they behave the way they do. It’s appropriate to first understand before we conclude. It’s until we put ourselves in their shoes that we respond appropriately, to coreect, rebuke or to be compassionate and helpful to them.

Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Shalom children of God. 

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."- NIV

In the old covenant, the high priest would access the holy of holies in the temple only once a year to offer sacrifices to atone for the people’s sins, begining with his own. Jesus, the high priest of the new covenant, didn’t enter a physical temple, but the very throne of God Most High in heaven. He shed His own blood to once and forever atone for all human sins. One never needs to offer animal blood or other sacrifices for their sins any more. Jesus blood is forever enough to wash away sin, confessed and repented of. 

The other wonderful news is that it’s  not only the priests who have access to  God’s throne on behalf of others, but anyone can now access God’s holy  throne by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, Who takes away our sins. To confirm this, when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain which separated the most holy (where the ark of the old covenant representing God’s presence was), and the holy place in the temple, was torn from top to bottom(Matthew 27:51).

This implied a broken barrier between man and God. Now at any time, we can access the throne of grace and commune with our loving Father,  and to find help for our needs without fear of judgment or rejection, but with confidence of acceptance by God on account of the atoning work of Jesus. Access, moreover to God Almighty, is a great gift! We come to God in Jesus name, not on the basis of any good works. That is grace, to be accepted for what we didn’t even deserve in the first place! Glory to God! So come to God as you are.

Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 42:8-9 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” – NIV

One of the things God vehemently hates and sharply rebukes, is idolatry. Idols take many forms, including curved images, things and people we love more than God. God hates idolatry because it takes His place and due glory which cannot be shared. In comparison with idols, God declared that He speaks of things past and those yet to come and they happen. He is God Almighty Who knows the end from the beginning. Nothing takes Him by surprise.

To God, nothing is hidden. If we want to know what the future holds, the things yet to happen, we ought to listen to God. Men may predict the future based on previous trends and projections. Many times that fails miserably. It is to God’s glory that a matter is concealed and revealed when men seek Him. But many in their folly and pride, ignore God and fall into the same pitfalls others have fallen into.

God owns time. He created it, but His existence is beyond time, from eternity past to eternity future. He is the begining and the end, the first and last, the Alpha and Omega. He sees and knows it all. And He calls us to seek guidance, wisdom and direction to life from Him. And we would never fail. What a privilege! May we cease from being wise in our own understanding and trust in God Who knows it all.

Proverbs 3:7-8 “Do not be wise in your own eyes;   fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body  and nourishment to your bones.”

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Exodus 32:19-20 "When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain…" - NIV

Moses had been in the mountain forty days with Joshua. When people saw that he delayed, they asked Aaron to make for them gods of gold shaped like a calf which they worshipped. Moses, with the heart of God, couldn’t stand seeing the idolatry. He was angry and zealously set out to destroy the idol and those who promoted it.

When our hearts are ablaze with true love for God, we cannot stand what He hates. We shall love what He loves and hate what He hates. To love, enjoy and promote what God hates and claim to know and live for Him, is hypocrisy. Elijah was zealous for God, and fought idolatry in Israel. Jesus was consumed with zeal for God’s house of worship, and aggressively drove out those who had turned it to trading centre and den of thieves.

Zeal is a driving force into what we are consumed with. It enables whole hearted action, gives perseverance in battle, and is the secret to any significant achievements. Without zeal in service, people easily give up, compromise, play double standards, backslide and become easy targets to enemy forces. We are called to be zealous in whatever we do in God. If you have lost it, service isn’t enjoyable. Ask God to restore it, or else you soon fade out!

Romans 12:11 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 19:2 " It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way."

The wise man underscored the importance of not just having zeal, but balanced with knowledge. There are people so committed and sold out to what they do. But for lack of proper knowledge, wisdom, guidance and timing, they hit dead ends, get so frustrated and lose heart on an otherwise good cause.

Life is not a straight line. Just like driving a car, there are straight parts of the road. There are also corners, rough, slippery and bumpy portions which require one to slow down, seek guidance and be very cultulative. It’s the first and slow, and sometimes brief stops that ensure you eventually get to your destination safe. Speed at a time you need to be slow or stop, may kill. The scripture above says it is neither good to be hasty and miss the way. Some in their zeal even run ahead of God’s timing and miss the way.

Zeal should always be guided by faith, knowledge and wisdom so as to achieve its objectives. We don’t know it all. We should not be wise in our own eyes and ignore the warning signs along the way. Some have gone ahead of us and their counsel is important for stability and longevity in life. Above all, God, Who knows the end from the begining, is willing to lead and guide us in the right paths for our safety and peace. Trust and allow Him lead.

Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."

Psalm 23:3 "…He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake."

Shalom children of God