Category: Daily Devotionals

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.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 2:3-4, 19-20 "You are patient, you have suffered for my sake, and you have not given up. But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first… I know what you do. I know your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first. But…" - GNB

The Ephesus church had lost the first love. The Thyatira church were doing more now than before. To all these churches, there were good things they were commended for and what they were not doing well. They were fluctuating in their faith. The reason Jesus was pointing out all these, the good side and the areas to correct, was so that they may be consistent and balanced in their salvation.

At any one point in our lives, there are areas we are doing well and those we need to improve. As God corrects us, He wants to instill in us the quality of consistency as it is Him. He is God Who does not change like shifting shadows, and always true to His character. An inconsistent life is inbalanced, and susceptible to manipulations of enemy deceptions. Great men and women have been brought down by little things they didn’t attend to.

The churches were doing well in some areas while others were badly off and would lead to their downfall. Our areas of excellence should not overshadow the weak ones. Let’s cooperate with the Spirit as He helps us in our weaknesses, so that we can be focused, straight and consistent in our walk with God.

Hebrews 12:12-13 "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 13:23 "So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." - NIV

In the whole chapter of Mark 13, Jesus was teaching about the end times and its signs. These things were yet to come. Their appearance was to indicate to those watchful enough that the end is close. In His grace and mercy, God doesn’t want to take us unawares. But many people don’t listen. Although no one knows the day or hour, we can see the seasons in comparison with Bible prophecies and tell how close we are. And we are right in those days!

To discern the times requires that we are on guard, watching and waiting. As we notice in our world today, the so much happening are the very signs Jesus warned us about. One of the warnings to guard against is deception from false Christs and false prophets performing signs and miracles to decieve. They come in Jesus’ name, but driving people away from Him. Others are increase of evil, pestilences, wars, and falling away from the faith.

It is unfortunate to be warned ahead of time and to fall victim of the very thing you were warned against. And yet this is happening to us upon whom the fulfillment of the signs and the end of time has come. Many are blinded by the cares of this life and pleasure seeking, and are trivialising or ignoring the glaring warning signs. They will only have themselves to blame for failing to heed the obvious warning signs Jesus clearly gave ahead of time.

Luke 21:34-36 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on 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.”

Shalom children of God.

Behold I am coming!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Revelation 3:11 "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." - NIV

Jesus didn’t have much against the church in Philadelphia. They had kept the faith, endured so much for God and Jesus promised to sustain them in the hour of trial. What was important for them was to hold on to what they already had. They also needed to know that their Lord was coming back to reward the faithful who hold on the faith to the end despite so much trials.

Tbe soon return of Jesus is according to God’s calendar. This is why no one knows the day or hour, but only the Father. But we can read the signs of the times and tell how close. When His coming appears to delay according to human understanding, some will be tempted to give in to the challenges they face. But His seeming delay is for our good because He is not willing that any should perish (2Peter 3:9). And He gives the grace to stand firm in Him.

We live in unprecedentedly evil times. Some believer’s faith has grown cold (Matt 24:12). The hope of Jesus’ coming back should build perseverance and keep our faith alive so as to keep moving. Jesus warned that by holding on to the faith we possess in Him, we shall receive our crowns. If not, we lose it to others. Cheer up child of God. Our Lord is coming back! Let’s hold on patiently till we see Him.

Matthew 24:12-13 "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Revelation 22:20 "He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

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.