Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 6:60-61,66 "On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?… From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." - NIV

Jesus had taught hard things to understand and many of His disciples began to leave Him. Unmoved by those who were deserting, He asked the twelve whether they also wanted to leave. But Peter said they wouldn’t leave because they had learnt that Jesus alone had words of eternal life. Many of those who followed had eaten the miraculous food and were expecting such a life of ease being with Jesus day.

If Jesus was seeking fame and popularity, He would have left out those hard teachings and do everything possible to keep the crowd around. He didn’t compromise His teachings of the truth for cheap popularity. Such is the big lesson every gospel minister needs to learn from Him. We have been entrusted with the eternal truths from God and we should be faithful stewards.

But many, in attempt to build their names, ministries, grow their following for other ulterior motives, have compromised their teachings for what their hearers want to hear! I pray you stand your ground like Jesus and teach nothing but the whole truth from God. Paul said he didn’t hesitate to speak the whole counsel of God to the people he preached to. We are accountable to God for what we preach! As Jesus did, let’s teach truth in love and wisdom, whether people like it or not.

Acts 20:27 "For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God."

1 Timothy 4:16 "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 6:10-11 "A little sleep, a little slumber,  a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man."- NIV

Picking a lesson from the ants which have no rulers but work hard enough to store their food in summer, Solomon rebukes laziness. It manifests through desire for the easy life, sleeping and enjoying oneself when they should be working. And before they know it, they don’t have what to eat or sustain them. God detests idle laziness. He is a hard worker and expects us to work too.

God committed Himself to bless the work of our hands, and not idleness. The assignment God gave man upon creation was work, to manage creation(Gen 1:26). Jesus said He was working, and His Father too was working(Jesus 5:17). We can’t do less. So strong was Paul’s attitude against laziness that he advised that whoever doesn’t work should not even be given food!

God works miracles, including provision. But the sustainable means God ordained for our provision is work. He gives ideas. To sit and do nothing with your hands only praying and expecting miraculous provision is not in God’s will. As you pray, do something, however small, including volunteer work. And do it excellently. That becomes a point of contact for God’s blessings to flow.

Deuteronomy 28:12 "The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none."
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”"

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

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord  will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." NIV

God was responding to complains by Israel about His might which is incomparable to that of idols people trusted in. People rely on several things for their safety and strength. This includes physical energy, intellectual abilities, or socioeconomic privileges. All these have their limitations. At one point or another, they fail. Youth is symbolic of the peak of human energy. But it can fail.

The storms and quakes of life will come. They can drive us to points of tiredness and weariness that only God can renew. God Himself never gets tired or weary. He understands that we get tired and is committed to renew our strength when we are weak. But this only happens as we put our trust and hope in Him. Elijah walked a 40 day journey in the strength of one meal. That had to be God, not human strength.

If we are to to walk this journey of life without falling out along the way, or being derailed and giving up, we should deliberately learn to trust God in all things at all times. Human strength fails despite all our best attempts and abilities. Only by waiting on God can we withstand the relentless arrows the enemy shoots at us all the time. And we shall go on to the end and finish strong. Wait on the Lord!

Psalm 27:13-14 "[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 3:16-18 "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked… " - NIV

The church in Laodecia was lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. Jesus detested that and was to spit them out, wishing they were either hot or cold. They were double dealing, neither fully in God nor fully in the world. They told themselves that they were rich and needed nothing anymore. They mistook material wealth for spiritual wealth as well. Blinded by that, they completely lost track of how God saw them, as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked!

They thought they had arrived on the basis of wealth. As they prospered materially, they became poor in relation to God. The prosperity gospel risks reducing riches towards God to materialism. Eventually, people edge God out or ‘use’ Him as a cover to attain what they want and yet out of touch with Him. That’s a dangerous state which the enemy rides on to keep people in a form of religion and yet without God. It gives false hope and assurance.

A lukewarm state of relationship with God leads to this. Let it again be clear that true riches is in good relationship with God. Material wealth is good and has its place, but should never be used as a measure of spiritual health too. The Laodiceans thought they were rich, but God saw that they were in very bad shape. What would He say of your state before Him? Beware of the deception of wealth and danger of arrival in it!

Psalm 62:10 "Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them."
Luke 12:15 "Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 10:27-29 "He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” - NIV

He was an expert in the religious law. He came to test Jesus by asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus referred him to what the law said. He stated it correctly. And Jesus told him to do that and live. He still wanted to justify himself, by asking who his neighbour was. There were many such experts of the law Jesus sharply rebuked for their full knowledge of the righteous requirements of the law, but didn’t practice it.

We live in an information era. There is too much people know although it has not transformed them. This includes relationship with God. People know so much of what God expects of them. But few actually put it into practice in their lives. They are full of head knowledge
of God’s word, could quote and recite the scriptures. But the fruit of their lives shows otherwise. That’s the difference between theory and practice, head knowledge and life transformation.

If whatever we know about God and His word has not first transformed our lives, then what we have is religion without relationship. The ultimate purpose of God’s word is to transform us into God’s nature of holiness, righteousness, truth and justice. The more the word gets in and changes us from within, the more we reflect God’s nature in all we do externally. Others should be able to see God in us. The tragedy of our time is many professing believers without corresponding fruit! How is it with you?

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 6:9-10 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."- NIV

One of the biggest temptations when worn out and weary is to give up. With the constant battles, the enemy’s aim is to wear us out so as to give up out faith and give in to his manipulations. In delays, the temptation is to yield to short cuts which compromise your values and stand. Sometimes the good you have always done seems to have gone unnoticed and the feeling is that it was useless to have done good and yet the wicked seem to be thriving.

Paul was teaching about helping carry one another’s burdens and doing good to others. When we ourselves are worn out, feeling low or struggling in some way or another, it is easy to ignore what challenges others are going through. The focus comes to us, yet we have a responsibility to be our brothers keepers too. Paul reminds us that there is a reward to our doing good to others and not to give up doing good.

At the point of exhaustion, the future appears dark, like not much will work out again. Thats how many people give up. And yet alittle perseverance will keep us going. Even if you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, rest and pick up again. But keep moving. Victory is certain to those who don’t give up on their God given course. God assures us of His presence and to renew our strength. Jesus never gave up amidst so much that wore Him out. Let’s learn from Him, as we fix our eyes on Him so that we don’t grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3 "… And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 2:14-15 "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans." - NIV

Jesus chastised the Pergamum church for tolerating doctrines of Balaam which encouraged idolatry and sexual immorality Likewise, the Thyatira church tolerated the teachings of Jezebel which enticed even servants of God into sexual immorality (2:20). The warning strongly came to these churches for repentance. We live in an era where such twisted and compromised doctrines of God not only sugarcoat sin, but don’t take a clear stand on holiness among believers. The pulpit and pew have been defiled!

But God calls us to both doctrinal and moral integrity as His children. There are no short cuts to this even with the increase of evil in our time. God has not adjusted His standard of holiness and righteousness. Those who twist His word to suit their evil desires and encourage doctrinal compromise are strongly warned as the churches of Pergamum and Thyatira were warned.

Paul told Timothy to watch his life and doctrine. A life driven by other motives than to solely glorify God is very susceptible to doctrinal compromises. There are those who start right and derail along the way. It requires diligence and perseverance in what the word of God teaches, sometimes at a high price. Those who teach others God’s ways are encouraged to remain morally and doctrinal upright. May God help us to do so!

1 Timothy 4:16 "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Tim 4:1-2 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." - NIV

To any sensitive, discerning and informed student of God’s word, the signs of our times are no surprise. Paul mentions some of these in his letter to Timothy. Among these are departure from the faith by some, and following demonically orchestrated teachings. They thus become hypocritical liars, with dead consciences, agents of the devil, and yet continue teaching others! Jesus had said false prophets will arise.

A conscience is the check within a person that helps discern right from wrong. When it is alive and God guided, one is enabled to do what is right. But when it is dead, one does what is wrong without any remorseful feelings. The hypocitic teachers Paul talked about were once in the faith, but abandoned it for deceptive demonic leading and teachings. They ignored the Holy Spirit, Who convicts and leads into the truth. As a result, the conscience dies because the Holy Spirit Who awakens the conscience has been grieved away. Such are truly dangerous and mislead many!

Our responsibility is to watch out for such teachers lest we get deceived (Matt 24:4), and to watch ourselves and our doctrine as we teach others. We already see such perversions of truth all around us. The bible instructs us not to blindly follow anything, but to test the spirits behind what we see or hear, whether they are from God or not. We don’t use our feelings, emotions and worldly knowledge to test, but God’s word. This requires that we are first knowledgeable and grounded in God’s word. In this way, we are safe.

1 John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
1 Timothy 4:16 "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 7:25-26 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." - NIV

The passage is comparing the human priesthood under Aaron and the one that came through Jesus. A priest was required to represent people and their needs before God, make atonement and animal sacrifices for sins so that people would be declared righteous before God. Being human, they had to make sacrifices for their sins first, being sinners themselves. This practice was repeated regularly, year in year out.

But Jesus came as the perfect high priest and made atonement for sin once and for all in His own blood. We never have to make any sacrifices again for sin. Jesus’ blood is forever enough. He is able to save completely those who come to God THROUGH him, whatever the magnitude of sin. In Him we have assurance of forgiveness of sin and full restoration to God, however low and lost one could have sunk in sin. Wonderful Savior He is!

This is the good news of the gospel that no other human beliefs, teachings or practices can give. It only happens when one comes to God through Jesus Christ, submitting to His Lordship. He continues to intercede for us, helping us in our weaknesses so that we remain in Him, escaping the deception of Satan. Great is the love of God our Father! He saves even the chief of sinners, the vilest offender who truly believes! He only calls men to come to Him in repentant humility. Will you?

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Shalom children of God.