Category: Daily Devotionals

Fear and doubt (1/8/2022)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 8:36-37 "Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left."

Jesus had healed the demon possessed man and all the Garasenes came to witness. Instead of rejoice that a healer had come right to their territory, they were overwhelmed with fear and sent Him away. They missed the rest of the blessings He would have brought to them. Fear and doubt are weapons the devil uses to hold his victims captive and then manipulate to do anything.

Where fear and doubt is, faith is not. And faith is a shield, a weapon of our warfare to protect us from the fiery arrows that the devil is ever shooting at us. These include discouragement, hopelessness, frustration, despair… Once these fill ones mind, the devil can drive them in any direction, including suicides. The devil can only make inroads into your life by first causing fear. Fear opens you up to his maneuvers. That’s why he roars like a lion, creates scary scenarios to first instill fear, including forming up lies to devour his victims.

Millions are in the devil’s trap because of fear. Child of God, you are above the manipulations of Satan by your position in Christ. Refuse to believe his lies however real they may appear. Stand firm in faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and believe the sure promises in His word. No weapon forged against you shall succeed, unless you circum to fear. You are victorious, more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. Get out of the net of fear. Walk with your head high in God your redeemer. Hallelujah!

1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Luke 8:50 "Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 19:7 "All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” - NIV

Jesus was welcomed by Zachaeus, a tax collector, into his home for a meal. The people murmured that He had gone to be the guest of a sinner, as they considered the tax collectors to be sinners. He also visited one of the Pharisees’ homes for dinner, and yet these were people who opposed Him. While there, a woman they saw as a sinner for her lifestyle, came and poured expensive oil on Him while weeping. They complained that He shouldn’t have allowed such sinful woman to touch Him.

A blind beggar cried for His help, and He stopped to attend to him. Children were brought for Him to bless them. Lepers and outcasts cried out for help, and He healed them. That is the love of Christ without partiality. He loved, and still loves all. The statesman, the outcast and rejects of society are all His precious people.

Can we love less if the Lord we serve didn’t? Our world has created categories of people into those who are loveable and not, those in our class and those below or higher. If we His disciples are truly following in His footsteps, our hearts should be driven by His kind of love for all people. One of the basis of judgment in the last day is on how we treated the ‘least of these'(Matt 25:31-46). May God help us not to ignore those He loves and are dear to His heart based on humanly created boundaries and categorisation!

1 Timothy 5:21 "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 2:14-16 "In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”"

The Jews were preparing for the passover celebrations. Trade was booming in the temple area. In the process, the purpose of the temple as a place of prayer and worship to God Almighty, was watered down. It was now more of a business area than a sacred place of worship. Jesus drove out the traders, rebuking them for turning His Father’s house of prayer into a den of thieves(Mark 11:17).

In the new testament period we are in, our bodies are the temple of God Who dwells in us. Our bodies therefore are temples of worship to God. But just as it was in Jesus days, people have turned their bodies into other businesses other the purpose of prayer, communion with God and worship. So much fills people’s lives which does not glorify God. Such abuses of God’s temple include immorality, drunkenness, drugs, cursing, thefts, impurity of all kinds, etc.

When Jesus comes into our lives, He drives out what is not meant to be done in us. We need to allow Him into our lives, His temple, to cleanse it so as to serve its rightful purpose of communion and worship to God. He breaks chains and bondages of those who can’t free themselves to worship God. We are to glorify God in our bodies. He stands at the door knocking. Let Him in and corporate with the Holy Spirit given to help us.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

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.

Using your weakest points

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 4:1-3 "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” - NIV

Jesus had fasted 40 days in the desert and was now hungry and physically weak. The devil identified that as a weak point and tempted Him in line with His biggest need at that time – food. When the devil wanted to cause mans fall from God’s glory, he came through Eve whom he easily confused and convinced. The rest is history. That remains his trick.

We all have weak and strong areas. Our weakness, or soft spots, make us most susceptible to temptation. Satan has used this trick to bring down millions. Samson, Solomon were weak in with women. Some women can’t resist any man. Gehazi, Judas Iscariot were weak in money and material things. Some are timid and fearful, have bad temper, can’t resist power, food, etc. The devil rides on these to drive its victims far away from God and leading to a downfall. Once down, he makes the victims wallow in guilt and self condemnation, or to resign to fate and throw off any restrain.

Our ability to resist this scheme of the devil lies in honestly identifying and knowing our weakness, seeking help and strength from God, using the word to resist Satan, and getting a confident to hold us accountable. Where you are weak, you need support from others. When you fall into the same thing, someone else will genuinely hold your hand and lift you up to your feet. You can rise up again and be what God intended you to be! The Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one,  because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Philippians 3:10-11 "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."

Jesus categorically told His disciples that they would face tribulation in this world(John 16:33). This emanates from the spiritual forces between the kingdom of God and the devil’s resistance to the gospel and attempt to sway people away from God. As one goes through these battles, they face human agents of the devil. Paul didn’t look at sufferings for Christ as something to be shunned or merely endured, but rejoiced in them.

If one is suffering for standing for truth, righteousness and justice, and for seeking to glorify God through the gospel, they can count it as sharing in the sufferings of Christ. That’s what Paul calls fellowship with Christ through suffering. To this we have been called. But Peter says no one should suffer for doing wrong and claim to suffer for God.

This kind of fellowship carries along the promise of participating in His resurrection, partaking of God’s kingdom and receiving the crown of life(Rev 2:10). It is the way to maturity in the faith, to glory and exceeding joy with God forever. He gives us grace to go through it all with Him as did the early church rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Lord. Hear Jesus’ words;

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."(Matthew 5:10-12)

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

"Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." - NIV

In life, we can never be self sufficient on our own. No one knows or is able to do everything alone. Even the geniuses need others to excel. When success comes our way, and we make head way in our endeavors as others get mesmerized at our great achievements, there is a tendency to think we now know it all. Then pride sets in. This happens even in matters of beliefs and faith in God.

Deception comes similarly. The master deceiver, Satan, has driven multitudes in the wrong path and convinced them that they are on the right track, and yet it’s a lie! Their way SEEMS right to them, but it leads to death in the end. Satan is taking them for a ride. How tragic to spend all your years, energy, and other resources on what ultimately turns out to be a hoax, a sham, a lie! Unfortunately, many will realise this at the end of their lives when it’s too late!

The right way is the way of God shown to us through His word. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). The human nature,  without God, was corrupted by sin and it’s inclination always tends to evil. With Jesus, we are in the right way that leads to life. Without Him, we are on the way that leads to death, whatever our seeming success now. Come to Jesus the way, the truth and the life and continue to live in Him.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:7).

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Shalom children of God. Peaceful week

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

Psalm 103:1 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
My soul, my spirit, my very life, it’s your duty to praise the Lord your Maker. His holy name deserves our praise. True praise arises from within, from a thankful heart, manifesting on the outside.

Psalm 103:2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
As my soul praises the Lord, it will remember and not forget what He has done. Forgetfulness lessens praise and increases complaints and disgrutlement. Praise keeps the great things Godhas done in constant view and focus.

Psalm 103:3 who forgives all your sins  and heals all your diseases,
The Lord forgives all our sins and frees us from guilt and condemnation before Him. He has committed to heal all our diseases. For these promises, we can lay claim as our portion from Him.

Psalm 103:4 who redeems your life from the pit  and crowns you with love and compassion,
Without God, we are dead in sin. But God redeems us to Himself from death to life. This He does out of His deep love and compassion. I am loved and redeemed of the Lord. His I am! What a joy to know this!

Psalm 103:5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. I have desires and longings. Some may not glorify His name. God is committed to fulfill my desires, but only with good things. When my desires are satisfied with good, my health is renewed like the eagle’s.

For these and many others, praise the Lord o my soul! He has done, and will continue to do great things. He deserves all the praise.

Shalom children of God.