Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Maturity Vs imaturity (25/6/2021)

1 Corinthians 3:2-4 “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?”

At some point, maturity is expected to be attained. But when that doesn’t happen at the right time, it becomes awkward. Beautiful and lovely as a child is, he is expected to outgrow childhood stage. The Corinthians, by the time Paul wrote, were still babies immature in the faith and yet expected to have matured. This manifested in being worldly, disunited, jealousy, and quarreling among themselves. These are still the marks of immaturity.

On the other hand, there are signs of maturity expected to be exhibited. These include the fruit of the Spirit love, peace, patience, kindness, …(Gal 5:22-23), unity in the faith, becoming more like Christ. It is in the maturity of God’s people that He is most glorified as we reflect Him. The church’s mission in the world is to be ambassadors of God, representing Him and His kingdom. In imaturity, the church brings more shame than glory to God.

Let each one of us who is individually a member of the body of Christ seek to grow so as to meaningfully contribute to the body and bring glory to God. Paul said there is a view of things, approach to issues and perceptions of people in a dignified manner that shows maturity. It sees everything from God’s perspective. Let God help us attain that level.

Philippians 3:15-16 “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Nehemiah 1:3-4 “They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven…” – NIV

Nehemiah was one of the exiles privileged to serve the king as the cup bearer. But when his brother Hananiah came from Israel and informed him about the terrible state of affairs in Jerusalem; the broken walls and suffering people, he broke down and wept. He lost peace despite a comfortable position and life he held. He fasted and prayed for several days seeking God how to remedy the situation back home. The king eventually noticed and asked him what he would do to help him go back home and help his people.

Thus began Nehemiah’s journey to restoring the walls of Jerusalem and reorganizing his people. An intense burden to make right what is going wrong is one indicator of a call in one’s life. While everyone else sees it and life goes on, the one called to rectify it can’t rest until a solution is found. They are willing to lay down their lives to see something done. To Moses, God expressed the burden in His heart to rescue His people from Egyptian bondage.

Anyone who has greatly been used by God to achieve much is driven by a burden. A burden is one indicator of purpose, God showing you what He wants you to do to rectify what is going wrong. Paul stated how he had unquenchable burden to preach the gospel and to see churches established at all costs. Others are driven by burdens to liberate the oppressed, alleviate suffering and see people become their best. What burdens can’t you get out of your mind? That could be a pointer to God’s purpose for you. Pursue it.

Romans 9:1-4 “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel…”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."_ - NIV 

Paul vehemently defended the gospel he preached about Christ as true. So firmly true is it that he made such strong statements of curses for anyone who perverted and preached a different gospel. He noted that some people were deliberately doing this to take them back to salvation through the law. Why such strong words? Because such compromises have eternal consequences.

We are to love, respect and even please others in what we do for encouragement, communion, support and to move together. That’s in God’s will. The dividing line, however, comes when our attempt to please others puts us at enemity with God. This includes sinning, compromising doctrinal matters, breaking fellowship with God because you want to impress men. In that case, as it was for Paul in the scripture above, we have to choose to please God and not men.

Such situations always come – in homes, community, work places, in seeking opportunities, etc. We have to decide, commit and settle it in our hearts that we shall choose to please God. The price may be high, leading to lose of opportunities, friends, facing ridicule, rejection or forfeiting other benefits. Anyone who has lived for God amidst the evils of this world, has paid that price to stand for God. You too, guided by a firm foundation of godly values, can stand. If you decide to please men in such cases, you cease to be a servant of Christ. _

1 Thessalonians 2:4 "Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives."_

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

How we grow (26/6/2021)

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” – NIV

There are no shortcuts to growth. Growth is both the effect of personal commitment of each one of us, as much as the result of the inputs into our lives. We often admire the early church and their great accomplishments for God. But few want to ask what they did to grow so strong in the Lord and to attain what they achieved. The scripture above gives us the secret: daily devotion. Nothing replaces a personal intimate walk with God towards quality spiritual growth.

Four major avenues of growth are mentioned: devotion to teachings of the apostles, fellowship among themselves, breaking of bread and prayer. The word was the centre of teaching. Their fellowship with one another was sincere. They broke bread in communion with one another and with the Lord. They prayed daily. Such was their lifestyle. And they grew so much to be like their Lord that they were nicknamed Christians (Acts 11:26). We cannot do less and expect to be like them or better.

Growth is first and foremost individual. And this means devotion to the teachings of the word through personal study, fellowship with others, communion with the Lord and prayer at individual level. What manifests publicly is developed and shaped in the secret chambers. The church is only as strong as its individual members. The extent of our growth is determined by the quality of our personal devotional lives with God.

Acts 2:46-47 “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 4:31-34 “Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” – NIV

Jesus was going to Galilee from Judea and had to pass through Samaria. He was now hungry and thirsty. While at the well, a Samaritan woman comes and He asked her for water to drink. When the disciples came back from buying food, they urged Him to eat but He couldn’t, atleast at that time. Something was burdening Him more than ordinary food; the need to preach to people the woman had rushed to call.

The will of His Father, the souls who would be ministered to, so filled His heart that food had to wait. That’s passion. It made Him do what He was doing wholeheartedly without reservation and out of a willing heart. Although not all zeal and passion is indication of ones purpose, when one is operating in the things they were created for, it flows seamlessly and is done with passion. The combination of a burden and passion are sure to push a person to excellence and perseverance despite the odds to fulfill their purpose.

A natural love and drive to do something without coercion and persistently is an indicator of purpose and calling in that area. Such passion is inspired by the Holy Spirit to enable one serve their purpose. Think of anyone truly fulfilling their purpose in life. They certainly enjoy and are fully immersed into what they do. The passion has consumed them and their lives resonate with it. They are even willing to forsake anything that stands in the way, including laying down their lives. Find out what you are so naturally passionate about. It could point to your purpose. Hear Paul express his passion in preaching;

Acts 20:23-24 “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Samuel 15:13-15 "When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”_ - NIV 

God’s message and instructions to Saul were clear; to wipe out the Amelekites and everything they owned. Saul went and selectively destroyed what was unpleasant and spared the best bulls and sheep, purportedly to come and sacrifice to God. They also spared Agag, their king. When he met Samuel to report, he confidently said he carried out the Lord’s instructions. This act of disobedience displeased God so much that He regreted why He made Saul king, and removed him from the kingship.

Disobedience comes in various forms. Outright or partial refusal to heed instructions. When what God requires of us is interpreted and executed as one wishes or finds convenient, that’s disobedience. We are not at liberty to choose what we wish to do and what we don’t like as far as God’s word is concerned. God calls us to simple trust and complete obedience. Jesus commissioned the church to teach obedience to His commands.

How is it that some are living in sin and disobedience in one area of their lives and yet appear very confident, committed and zealous for God in other aspects? Because of self styled godliness which has redefined God’s word and instructions to conveniently suit their ungodly bodily desires. It is double dealing with the world. The Bible says God cannot be mocked by such hypocrisy. We ultimately reap what we sow. Choose to simply trust and obey God. That’s the way of peace._Galatians 6:7 “Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. People will reap exactly what they sow.”__

Matthew 28:20 "...and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”_ 

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

To fully release your potential (27/6/2020)

1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” – NIV

Paul was in the middle of discussing spiritual gifts. He brought in the importance of love without which all gifting is worthless. And adds how growth from childhood to manhood changes many things. As earlier noted, we outgrow some habits as we mature. Among them is pettiness of reasoning, thought and action. We see things from a more strategic and broader view.

So much potential been deposited in us by our Creator. He gifted us to serve and help others become the best they were made to be. It is until we outgrow childish mentality and mature that we can be able to realise and fully release our potential in the world. There are things God can’t show or do through a person who has not matured to some level. There is a level of ministry that one can operate in only if they are grown up. And this happens for several other areas in life.

It’s my humble prayer and urge to all that we seek to be the best God made us to be. If not, the world will miss our gifting. Some are preoccupied with things they were never made to do. Others have settled for so little and yet much more is in them to bless the world. Let it not be that when we get to the other side of eternity we realise how much we could have achieved for the glory of God and the blessing of humanity — and yet we didn’t because we didn’t grow into our full potential and gifting. That will be an eternal regret!

Hebrews 5:11-12 “There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. There has been enough time for you to be teachers — yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God’s message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk.”

Shalom children of God. Blessed Sunday

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Corinthians 12:4 -7 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” – NIV

Paul dedicated this chapter and others to spiritual gifts. Notice the different kinds of gifts, service and working, but by the same Spirit, Lord and God. All these giftings manifest differently but serve the common good to those being ministered to. The beneficiaries are members of the church and community. The giver is the Holy Spirit, to enable us to serve God and fulfill our purposes in His work.

As these gifts manifest through the believer, and as others partake of it and enjoy the service, it will come out clearly what one’s gift is. And this is when others become witnesses and attest to the work going on in you through your gifting. Such witness helps those still in doubt to confirm and concretise what they have been called to do. It was what people saw Jesus do that they called Him teacher, prophet… He didn’t announce it to them.

Some of what we passionately engage in eventually turns out it was our gifting. As it becomes clear, every endeavor should be made to grow in it and to make your calling and election sure. Everyone has a gift and talent from God through which we serve God and others. The mistake is to be like others and yet your gift is different as Paul noted. Graciously accept being different as you serve others by the Spirit for the common good. That’s the ultimate purpose of God in every person: the common good.

1 Peter 4:10-11 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things;    do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – NIV

In the ups and downs of life, many things happen. There are nice and pleasant things. There are nasty and horrible ones too. We fall and rise up, stagger and stabilise. That’s what Israel went through. Even in their worst situations, God still promised to restore them. In the verses above, He asks them to forget the past because He was doing a new thing.

Whatever the past was, good or bad, God gives new chances and beginnings. He is God of another chance who heals, restores, forgives and comforts again. He wipes the past away. Even if the past was good, He has better things ahead. He says do not dwell on the past. The more you dwell on the past, the less you see or perceive the new thing God is doing. From the wasteland, lose, hopelessness, He makes a way and causes a blossom.

Let this encourage you today. God heals and restores the past. Arise from the shadows of the valley, from the guilt and pains of the past. Cast your past to Him. Let God’s light shine upon you. See the new things God is doing in your life. Forget the past. Leave it to Him.

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

Shalom. Peaceful week

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Exodus 3:10-11 “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”” – NIV

Sometimes we have no idea what our purpose in life is. Some keep trying one thing after another, copy others or are just going about their ordinary lives as Moses did. He had settled down as a shepherd of the sheep of his father in law as a career. But God had to speak to him in a dramatic way to show him that there was more He had for Moses to do. God speaks to make plain His purpose which could easily be overshadowed by other life commitments. It’s easy to miss this with so much around us.

To Moses, the call was clear to go and rescue Israel. Saul who became Paul was very settled in what he was doing. But Jesus appeared to show him what He had called and purposed him to do (Acts 9:15-16). That was a turning point for Saul. Even with a driving burden, a passion for what one is doing, and others attesting to what they see in us, God still speaks to clarify purpose. He speaks to say ‘this is what I created you to do.’ After all, we exist for Him, and all we do is to glorify His name.

God speaks through various people, ways and circumstances to everyone. And yet not everything people say they heard is from God. Some have covered up hidden motives and evil demonic ways in the name of God having spoken! Whatever God speaks about your purpose must be in line with His word which acts as the basis of testing to eliminate counterfeit. And when you are sure God has truly spoken, showing your purpose in life, be obedient and do just that. Follow Him.

Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”

Shalom children of God.