Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." - NIV

Daniel and his friends were in heathen Babylonian captivity. There were alot of ungodly practices contrary to the principles and beliefs in God they had been taught from childhood back in Israel. Part of this included the kind of foods which were first sacrificed to their gods before eating. Whoever ate it participated in worship of those gods.

Daniel was privileged among the exiles to be considered to eat at the king’s table and to serve in key kingdom positions. But where these privileges affected their relationship with God, they didn’t compromise. They didn’t eat the delicious but defiled food. They didn’t worship the golden image, nor pray to the king, nor be corrupted in any way even if it meant losing the positions, being fought, disobeying the king with death as a result.

The key to maintaining their integrity in God is the values they held on to. Values are principles one stands on to guide thoughts, decisions and boundaries to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in life. Daniel’s values were founded in God. Without such principles, one is swayed by anything to any direction any time. Each of us needs to establish and be completely persuaded of what we believe and stand for in honor of God as Joseph, Daniel and his friends did. That’s integrity; standing for what you believe. His grace is sufficient to carry us through in an increasingly wicked world.

Psalm 15:1, 4 "Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? … who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind…"

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 103:1-2 "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—…"

This is a psalm of gratitude. An attitude of praise and thanksgiving makes us look at the good things God has done. Honestly, there is much God has done and continues to do in everyone’s life. This is to all who believe or not. Many are not thankful because they have their own expectations of what they want God to do. When it doesn’t happen as they wish, it appears as if God has failed them.

A thankful attitude should be deliberate. You choose to tell your soul to praise. As you do, you remember what He has done, the benefits of salvation out of His goodness. God expects to praise and worship Him. After healing ten lepers, Jesus was surprised that only one came back to give thanks. Like them, few of us come back to Him to give thanks out of many good things He has done. It is usually easier to focus on what’s not going right than the good.

Thanksgiving glorifies God, makes us not forget what He does, encourages our faith, creates hope, establishes us in the faith and enables us find peace and rest for our souls only in God. It keeps fear, uncertainty and anger away. It gives assurance to our souls, that it is well, despite any present challenges. Purposefully be thankful to God. Bless the Lord O my soul!

Luke 17:17-18 "Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 40:14-15 "But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”" - NIV

Standing for the truth and commitment to what is right in an increasingly evil world is no easy task. Characteristic of much of the world today is promoting, tolerating and even legalising evil as normal. The standards changed. Those who stick God’s truth and do right are not only despised but even persecuted. They may lose opportunities, friends, or their lives. Many want success by whatever means. We live in an evil broken world.

Joseph had not compromised with his stand for God to sleep with portiphar’s wife. Falsely accused, he was dumped in prison. Recalling he didn’t do any wrong to deserve what he faced, he sought Pharaoh’s intervention through the cup bearer. It’s painful to be falsely accused and severely persecuted for what should have been applauded. That’s how evil systems work, but God never forsakes those who stand for Him.

Those who choose the path of integrity in the honor and fear of God can be sure to face challenges because they are fighting against evil systems perpetrated by the god of this world, the devil (Acts 14:22). Jesus said so to His disciples (John 16:33). He urged the church in Ephesus to remain faithful even to the point death to receive the crown of life. Many heroes of faith down the millennia sealed their faith with blood. The ultimate price is high to remain true and faithful to God in a dark world. But it’s worth it. The grace is sufficient. We shall overcome.

Revelation 2:10 "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 "Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." - NIV

Israel was about to enter the promised land. But central to inheriting this promise was their commitment to hear and obey God’s word and instructions. The decrees and laws they were given were complete instructions. They were neither to add nor subtract anything from it, but to keep them. But they failed and alot of disastrous effects followed.

When God speaks, He is not guessing. He knows the end from the begining, and knows what exactly He is saying. The absolutnesss, credibility and finality of God’s word is based on His nature and character. God is God alone. He is all wise, all knowing, all powerful and above Him is no other. Even the wisdom that man may want to use to add to, or subtract from God’s word, is from God.

Satan is also in the mission of distorting the credibility of God’s word and to cast doubt in people’s minds about God. But whatever Satan, or man under satan’s influence may want to do to add to or subtract from God’s word, the word of God remains the truth. His word is forever settled. John solemnly warned against the same as he concluded the book of revelation.

Revelation 22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

Psalm 119:89 "Your word, Lord, is eternal;  it stands firm in the heavens."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Proverbs 20:6-7 "Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is! Children are fortunate if they have a father who is honest and does what is right." - GNB

If there was a time when integrity was more scarce, it is now. Solomon said many claim to be faithful and can be relied upon. But the reality is different. Many are not people of their words! Despite the much deception, including among those who use God’s name, there are still people of integrity. Their fruit will show. Parents are to pass on integrity traits to children. Do you as a parent live dishonestly and expect your children to be otherwise? What are you modeling for them?

None of us on our own can live upright honest lives of integrity without God’s help. Man fell from God’s glory and has since been corrupted in every way. Only God has absolute integrity and can totally be relied upon. He fulfills what He says and there is no lie in Him. In our transformation towards Christ likenes, restoration of a life of integrity as He is, so that we reflect His nature, is key. And that’s possible if one wills and allows God.

In God, there are no grey areas. He is transparent in His dealings. Those called by His name are to manifest honest character. In the world is so much evil and intrigue. People claim one thing, and practice another. Parents are to model honesty to their children. Leaders at various levels are to lead in integrity. May God help us to pursue lives of integrity, where our private and public lives, thoughts, words, intentions and actions are the same. That’s God’s will.

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."

Matthew 5:37 "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Job 42:3,5-6 "You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ears had heard of you  but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself  and repent in dust and ashes.” - NIV

He had justified himself. He dared God to come and answer him, wondering why He sent him such bitter suffering. His friends too accused him of sining against God for such suffering to come Job’s way. Everyone appeared wise and knowledgeable in their own way. But when God spoke and described His creation, whatever they thought was high and lofty human wisdom faded away.

God’s few questions to Job totally humbled him. He had heard about God whom he believed in, but when God revealed Himself in the splendor of His wisdom and glory, all Job could do was to repent. This is how many people are, trusting their own wisdom to challenge and even accuse God. They despise, seek to correct and discredit His word.

It is futile to challenge God’s wisdom. Satan tried it. He has stired up people in history to challenge God. King Nebuchadnezzar did. Saul of Tarsus did. Some contemporary kings and rulers, using their God given power and authority, have tried to appear wiser than God. Everyone who does it learns a lesson; that the highest wisdom men is foolishness to God. They all end in failure. God is God alone. Besides Him is no other. We can only trust, honour and worship Him.

Daniel 4:37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Genesis 2:16-17 "And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Death remains a painful reality in this life. The scripture above gives the warning to man that points to the origin of death. It was a result of the sin of disobedience to the command of God by Adam and Eve. God had created man with freedom of will and choice. They chose to exercise it by listening to the devil through the serpent in disobedience to God. They died spiritually and eventually, physically. Through their sin, death came to all people.

Death was not in God’s original plan for man. In order to restore the original order, God started the redemption plan which was accomplished through Jesus’ coming, death and resurrection. Whoever believes in Him now gets eternal life and never dies again. Whoever rejects Him remains dead spiritually.

Physical death for all humanity continues todate because we still live in the corrupted fallen world. But at the renewal of all things at Jesus’ second coming, death will forever be removed. And the believer in Christ will live forever with the Lord in peace and joy.

Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—"

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 51:16-17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;  you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart  you, God, will not despise." - NIV

King David was described as a man after God’s heart. One of the key attributes to his state of heart that touched God, is what is described in psalm 51. He committed adultery, killed the husband of Bathsheba, attempted to conceal the sin and married her. God was angry with him and sent a prophet to rebuke him. His response made the whole difference.

David quickly acknowledged and deeply repented of his sin before God. Acknowledgement and repentance of sin allows God to forgive, draw close, heal, restore and do what He wants to do in one’s life. Some find it hard to apologise and acknowledge failure. They will instead find excuses to cover up the wrong they have done or blame others. Others do more ‘good works’ to appease God. But all He wants is a truly repentant heart.

Repentance takes humility, characterised by genuine brokenness of heart when we do wrong. We faulter in many ways. Progress and growth in our walk with God lies in admiting that we fail and always need God’s help. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. That’s the secret to a heart after God. He will not despise it.

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

James 4:6 "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud   but shows favor to the humble.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 9:27 "Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God." - GNB
Ephesians 2:1 "In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins…" - GNB

Death is termination of life. The first death Adam and Eve suffered was spiritual death because they were cut off from fellowship with God. They thus died spiritually, disconnected from God. Physical death is termination of physical life, separation of body from soul and spirit. Eternal death, also called second death in hell, is everlasting separation of the human soul from God forever. The scriptures above are about physical and spiritual death.

Whereas all humans died spiritually because all sinned, in Christ one crosses from spiritual death to eternal life (John 5:24). Those who reject Christ and His atoning work on the cross remain dead spiritually even though alive physically. If they continue to reject Christ until they physically die, they suffer the second death in hell, forever separated from God!

A believer in Christ has their name written in the Lamb’s book of life in heaven where they will be forever. Anyone whose name is not found written in that book, will suffer the second death. While here on earth, one can choose Christ and be saved from spiritual and the second eternal death. Our eternal destinies are only determined while here by the choices we make in relation to God. So while there is still time, choose Christ. He is our life for eternity.

Revelation 20:14-15 "Then death and the world of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire. (This lake of fire is the second death.) Whoever did not have their names written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire."

Shalom children of God

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - NIV

In this psalm, we learn that God was involved in our creation. Before we existed, He knew us and set our days. He molded us to be what we are. He knows our every thought and word before we even think and speak. No where can we hide from him since He fills the entire universe. He has our best interests in mind. We are His best.

So thorough is God’s knowledge and plan for us that nothing takes Him by surprise. He planned for all our days before we were born. He has everything lined up already. The best we can do is to submit to His leading to benefit from all He has for us. It has been man’s tendency to hide from God since the fall. That’s satan’s strategy to deny us the best God our Father has for us.

Friend, God knows us in and out. All our times and lives are in His hand. Let’s purpose to live for Him, and all will be well for us. At the end, we can only find true meaning and purpose to life by aligning ourselves to His master plan. All else outside this is a gamble!

Jeremiah 1:5 “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for."

Shalom children of God.