Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." - NIV

1 Thessalonians 4:7 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." - KJV

One of the meanings of holiness is perfection in goodness and righteousness. This is an attribute that no man in their own ability can attain. Only God is holy by nature. In Him is no sin at all. Man only attains holiness in Christ. The scriptures teach us that we are to live at peace with all men and to be holy. We were called to holiness.

The efforts we make to live at peace and holiness, is in our corporation with the Lord as He works out holiness in us by the Holy Spirit. No human effort or works can make one holy before God.If ever we are to see God, holiness is the way. But we become holy by our faith in Christ and the finished work on the cross. That’s our response and the part we play in this call.

The call to holiness is a call to the nature of God Who is holy. This may sound unattainable in the corrupt evil world we live in as sin keeps increasing. But understanding that this is God’s work, and not our own, frees us in His presence. His power enables us to live the God kind of life in holiness. We can thus boldly declare that we are holy before the Lord because of Jesus’ blood that washes away our sins.

2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

1 Peter 1:15-16 "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Shalom children of God

Using his weapons to fight him

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ephesians 6:11-12 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."- NIV

We are engaged in a spiritual battle against forces of darkness in heavenly realms. But these forces execute their schemes on earth through human beings. Paul reminds us that our battle is not physical, but against schemes of the devil. This speaks to the battle strategy to use to defeat them. And so the armor of God is most suited to counter these forces.

Satan most times never appears as Satan in day to day life battles. What we see are people killing, stealing, lying, and engaged in all sorts of evil. Our first reaction is to hate and fight back people. But the real enemy behind their actions is the devil and his demons. True, human beings have a responsibility to account for their evils. But many have been held hostage by demonic forces that drive them to do what they do. That’s why they keep repeating them, despite the law catching up with them.

Satan’s strategy is to make us only focus on the physical, fight and hate people as he hides behind the scenes and escapes attention. Human efforts are very limited in dealing with demonic influences. That’s why they keep doing the same things. Only spiritual warfare suffices, the reason Jesus asked us to pray for our enemies and not pay evil for evil. By praying and doing good, you are dealing with the real forces behind their actions. Using evil to pay back evil is using the devil’s weapons to fight him back. You certainly lose.

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21

Shalom children of God.

Ignoring the signs of the times!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 24:37-39 "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."

Noah was instructed to build an ark by God. As he did, people were watching and asking him what he was doing. Noah preached to them, warning of a coming flood. They ignored him and his message, continued to eat, drink, marry, indulge in wickedness. They mocked Noah, laughed at him, ignored any warnings as they made fun of a crazy preacher man building an ark on dry land.

Jesus said that’s how it will be in the days of His coming. And it is one of satan’s strategies to make people ignore any warnings about turning to God. The excuse will be that there is always time. Peter says people will say they have always heard about the end times since the time of their forefathers. So it will be like a myth to them. So much is happening around us in fulfillment of biblical prophecy. But many, under satanic deception, ignore these signs as usual social, political economic upheavals. And life goes on…

So shall it be at the coming of the Lord. Many will be caught unawares. I pray that our eyes may be opened to see and these signs help us put our lives right with God as we prepare for the imminent return of Jesus as Lord and judge of the world. Those times are upon us. Whoever has eyes and studies Bible prophecy can see. God graciously warns us so that we are not caught unawares as were the people in Noah’s time. Soon the door and window of opportunity will shut. And it will forever be late to the unprepared!

2 Peter 3:4,9 "They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” …The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 15:9-13 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted." - NIV

The debate was about which prisoner to release as was the custom. Barabas was a notorious prisoner who led an uprising. Jesus was the opposite. He committed no crime. But the priests, elders and teachers of the law who should have been Jesus’ key defenders because He was righteous, preferred that a criminal be released to them. They overlooked the law they claimed to stand for, to protect self interests which Jesus stood against. Barabas deserved to die. But Jesus Who didn’t deserve was crucified.

It is disturbing how common this is in our day. So many who hold power and authority, custodians of the law, and holders of positions of responsibility they could use to promote truth, justice and righteousness instead use it to defraud, oppress and discriminate so as to promote self interests. This happens across all strata of leadership in society. The positions we hold are a stewardship from God for the common good.

Let’s all examine ourselves as we execute our entrusted duties and responsibilities. Are we driven by a commitment to serve for the good of others or to protect hidden self interests? Do we stir others towards a genuine cause or clandestinely building our own empires? So many are vocal and strife for leadership with evil intentions. Ultimately, we shall be accountable to God Who searches the motives of mens hearts.

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,  when it is in your power to act.”

Esther 10:3 "Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews."

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Kings 19:3-4 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” - NIV

Prophet Elijah was one distinguished by great miracles and exceptional relationship with God. He had shut up the heavens without rain in the land for three years and opened it up again by the word of the Lord. He rid the land of false prophets and idolatry, and restored worship to God in a dramatic encounter when he called fire down from heaven. Jezebel, the queen and chief sorcerer threatened to kill him and he fled for his life.

In the scripture above, we see him tired, exhausted from the journey and in fear. He prays to die. All of a sudden, the great national achievements registered meant nothing. His strong relationship with God over the years seemed not to help. He saw his life as useless, likening it to that of his ancestors. He wanted to die. He prayed for death. How could this be for such an exceptional calibre of a man of God?

Such is the effect of burn out and exhaustion in life. In our fast paced, evil and stressful world, full of so much that drains our lives, and sometimes sends us to the brink of despair, the feelings of hopelessness, meaningless living fills our minds. The enemy, whose mission is to steal, kill and destroy will be quick to suggest strategies that further take life away from us. God is equally concerned about our state of wellbeing as we shall learn later. Our lives shouldn’t end in despair. There is hope in God as we too take some deliberate actions!

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."