Category: Daily Devotionals

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 25:15,19 "To one he gave five talents, and to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to  his ability. Then he went on his journey…  After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them." - NIV

It was one of Jesus’ last parables about accountability. God has endowed each one of us with talents and gifts according to our abolities. We are all gifted differently. Some of us can do much more than others. Some are more prominent than others. But all are important. Whatever we are or have, was given to us by our Creator. We are expected to use them to serve others and God, that is, to trade with our talents.

The Master is coming back and will demand for accountability on how we used them. We need to live with the reality that we shall account for our lives one day to our Maker. It will be a thorough life audit, how we used what God endowed us with, either to serve our selfish motives or to glorify Him. Some live as if they are in charge of their lives, talents, skills and abilities and they can use them whichever way they please. Whatever we have was given to us and we shall account for it one day.

Accountability is not usually easy, especially if things are not right. We may manipulate men, or cover up certain things on earthly accountability. But to the God to Whom we shall account, nothing escapes notice. He knows and sees every detail of all we do, including thoughts and hidden intentions. All that will be subject to judgement. Do self examination and if there be any ammends you need to make with your life, it had better be now while there is room to do so. Then turn to God in repentance and live for Him.

Hebrews 4: 13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Remember the day of accountability!

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 5:18-20 "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” - NIV

Jesus was in a house in Capernaum. There was a huge crowd in and around the house. The four men brought a bedridden paralyzed man for healing, but couldn’t access Jesus. As an act of faith, they dug through the roof and lowered their man right in front of Jesus. When Jesus their faith, He declared the man’s sins forgiven.

Can faith be seen? Yes, by its actions. The actions of the four men was enough to demonstrate it. James said faith without actions is dead. Jesus declared the man’s sins forgiven first because most of the challenges people go through are an effect of sin which broke our relationship with God. Forgiveness therefore is our primary need from God even before the physical healing or meeting of other needs we bring to Him.

The four men demonstrated faith in Jesus both for the forgiveness of sin and healing of the paralytic. We don’t read about their verbal confession of sin, but Jesus saw it and granted it publicly. Even when not spoken out, faith in God can be seen by our attitude and actions towards Him. Many claim to have faith, but their actions speak otherwise. Faith is primarily towards God, not men. Does God see your faith in Him?

Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered."
James 2:17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo 3/7/2022

John 15:4-6 "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." - NIV

Jesus repeated the word ‘remain’ in these three verses six times. That shows the level of emphasis on the action of remaining in Him. He was teaching about bearing fruit and used the analogy of a branch on a vine of a tree that cannot bear fruit unless it is attached to the vine. He is the vine and we are the branches.

None of us should think we can bear fruit while detached from God. No one can do good outside of a living relationship with God. A branch detached from the vine dies. So do we, if we don’t purposefully remain in communion with God. In Christ, we draw nourishment that not only keeps us healthy and alive in fellowship with Him, but also to bear fruit. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are only alive and fruitful while in Him.

To remain in Him is by choice and voluntary. One can choose to remain or disconnect from Jesus, but He himself will never cast those who come to Him away. We are called to bear fruit for God’s glory. Just as the worth of a tree is in it’s bearing much fruit, so are we in Christ. The more fruit a tree bears, the more useful it is. A branch in Him that bears no fruit is cut off and burnt (v.2). It’s useless. Remain in Jesus and bear fruit or detach yourself and die.

Matthew 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Shalom children of God. Blessed Sunday

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Judges 16:20 "Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him." - NIV

Samson was a very strong powerful man, mightily used by God to deliver Israel out of the hands of their enemies. He did extraordinary things out of this super human, God given strength. But he had a weakness in his character. He couldn’t control his sexual drives. On this fateful day, he got himself a prostitute called Delilah in whose laps the powerful Samson was shamefully defeated! 

We all have strong and weak areas. God in His grace and mercy still calls and uses us to serve His purposes even with those weaknesses. But God still using us despite our weaknesses, is no license to continue in sin. Samson thought it was alright to continue in his sexual escapades, after all God was still using him to do great exploits. He had slept with many women and still had his strength. He took it for granted until God left him. Many great men have been brought to their knees by temper, greed, gluttony, sexual immorality, pride, materialism, etc. Many are secretely struggling with hidden sins despite nice public reputation. Don’t join the list!

It’s important that we seek help in our weaknesses. God gives us time and sufficient grace to do so. If they are not dealt with, they can bring our downfall. Women failed Samson. The love of money and material wealth brought down Gehazi and Judas Iscariot. Pride destroyed king Herod. Food made Esau eternally lose his birth right. Identify your weak areas and seek help before the enemy uses it to bring your downfall. Against sin and satanic manoeuvres, none of us in our human abilities can withstand. But God is able to save us and keep us strong. Our victory is in Him.

1 Corinthians 9:27 "No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 6:37 "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." - NIV

Jesus was engaged in a long discussion with the Jews as He challenged their religious beliefs and their doubts about Him. This is one of the statements He made. In it, we learn that none of us comes to God on our own, although we make the decision to do so. It is God Who draws us to Himself through Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul said no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:3).

Those who genuinely come to Christ, trusting Him as Saviour and Lord, have the assurance that they will never be cast away. This gives eternal security to all in Christ that they will not be lost. As Jesus prayed before His departure from earth, He told the Father that He had lost none of those the Father had given Him except the son of perdition (Judas Iscariot) as foretold (John 17:12). He protected and presented them to the Father. He is the good Shepherd of His sheep. Praise God.

God is committed to keep those in Christ safe and firm, not to cast any away and never to be lost as long as they remain in Him. It is His joy to do so, because they are His treasured possession, the reason He came to seek and save the lost. We can thus reject any lies of the devil that God might change His mind and throw us away. Only purpose to abide in Him.

Hebrews 7:25 "And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives for ever to plead with God for them." - GNB

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 5:8-11 “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” NIV

Jesus borrowed Peter’s boat and used it to preach. After that, He told Peter to launch out his fishing net for a catch. This was not normal as fishing was best done at night. The experienced fisherman, Peter, informed Jesus that they tried the whole night but failed. How much more during day. But at Jesus’ word, he accepted and caught fish he never had before. The boat was sinking and His partners had to come to his help. This shocked them beyond imagination. Who is this man?

Peter knew this was no ordinary man he was encountering. He wanted Him to go away. But Jesus wanted him for His mission of fishing men through the gospel. At this miracle and call, they left their bountiful catch to follow Jesus. Paul too met Jesus in His glory and right away knew this wasn’t ordinary. He abandoned all his treasures to follow Him. While those who never had such experiences with God will take them to be foolish, to those who meet Him, it’s a treasure beyond measure.

With or without any extraordinary experience with God, let it settle in your heart that He is a great God beyond imagination. When He chooses to reveal a little bit of Who He is, His majesty and splendour, all our doubts, pride and rebellion melt away in an instant. On speaking to the storm and calming the sea, the disciples were shocked and asked, ‘what kind of man is this.'(Mark 4:41). I pray He gives you such an experience with Himself. Then all the glory and treasures of this life become nothing!

Philippians 3:7-8 “But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ’s sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere refuse, so that I may gain Christ…”

Shalom children of God.