Category: Uncategorized

Your Labour is not in vain (19/12/2019)B

ByPastor Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Corinthians15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – NIV

Apostle Paul in the reference chapter expounded on a central teaching of the Christian faith; death and resurrection. This gives us the assurance and hope of life now and here after. Without the resurrection hope, all our current efforts in the Lord’s service are in vain. It was on that basis that Paul encouraged the Corinthians to stand firm and not be moved in their work for the Lord.

Every labour effort is geared towards some profit from its returns. This principle applies across the board regardless of the nature and objective of the work. These expectations give the impetus to move against the odds and contradictions in any endeavor. It is certain that whatever we give ourselves to do will attract opposition, however noble. Service to God will likewise face resistance from satanic forces. Without commitment, focus and sense of purpose in our labours, discouragement and temptations to give up are real. Many fall along the way for those reasons.

God, in His justice and righteousness, always recognizes our labours in Him, however small. Because He recognizes them, He will reward us now and/or later. And so we know we are not labouring in vain. This makes us go through thick and thin, invest our resources and lives in this work as we persevere in it. Cheer up child of God. Your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Hebrews 6:10 “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”

Shalom children of God.

The Greatest in God’s in God’s kingdom.

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

 

Luke 22:24-26 “Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”- NIV

Jesus was about to go. He had been with His disciples for three years. They knew Jesus to be the king of the Jews and expected, as His closest followers, to be appointed to high positions in the next kingdom. Their argument stemmed from their understanding of worldly leadership in which the most authoritative, commanding, vocal, active or prominent were counted greater than others. It’s a show to impress. Jesus noticed their argument and explained how greatness is defined in God’s kingdom. It was, and still is, a total paradigm shift from the worldly view.

The notion of who is greater and better than who, is a worldly view. With this attitude, people will do all sorts of things to appear better than others. They will speak, dress, fight, lobby, pull others down, do make up, acquire and accumulate things (they may even never need) at whatever cost, just to out compete and appear better than someone else. This is an exercise in futility. It only leads to fights, jealousy, envy, pride, low self esteem and endless frustrations. The fact of life is that you will always be better than someone. And someone will always be better than you one way or another.

When we find our true meaning and purpose in God, we develop a security and confidence that makes us never compete or fight to bring others down. This brings true humility which enables us appreciate who we truly are, and to use our privileged positions, power and authority in leadership to serve others genuinely in love. The secret then to greatness in God’s kingdom, is humility and servant leadership and service. To the world, its the other way around. Jesus demonstrated it like no one else. Shall we?

John 13:12-14 “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.”You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Shalom children of God.

Who Sinned?
(17/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

 

John 9:1-3 “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned,his man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

The disciples of Jesus, on seeing this man born blind, attributed his condition to some sin. To them, such could not just happen. Whereas it’s true that some conditions are a result of sin as Jesus pointed out to the paralyzed man He healed at the pool, its not so for every occurrence in life. “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”(John 5:14).

Some situations are allowed by God to enable the display of His work. We may not even understand why He does this. Is God a sadist, Who enjoys inflicting suffering so as to intervene and proof a point? No. He is such a loving merciful God Who, in His omniscience, works in every situation for our good and His glory. Remember Job, Joseph and many others who ‘innocently’ suffered.

What the disciples concluded about the blind man’s state, is true for many of many of us in interpreting life’s circumstances. Many may point the cause of troubles to something gone wrong in one’s life, ye some of the things that happen to us are not necessarily because one sinned, but are a channel of God to show forth His works. The blind man himself could have had his view about his condition based on such superstitions. Let’s then seek to know God’s will in the situations of our lives. They are for God’s glory, even if started by the devil to destroy us.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Shalom children of God.

Making the Word Work for You (vi)
Pray Through the Word (14/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.” (NIV)

We pray because we expect answers to our peayers. One of the most effective prayers we can make, that makes God answer and yields sure results, is praying through God’s word. Bring Gods word back to Him in prayer. The word of God is His will revealed. And apostle John says this is the confidence we have in approaching God and to recieve answers from Him. People pray and ask God for things for various reasons. Some genuinely seek God’s will and to have needs met, some want prestige, fame, revenge on their enemies, favours, etc. Some prayers are in line with God’s will, and others carry selfish motives and evil intentions. God is obliged to answer what is in line with His will.

In the word are declarations of what we already are, or have by being in Christ, and promises conditioned on fulfilment of certain actions on our part. Sometimes we are begging for what we already have only waiting for manifestation or claiming promises without fulfilling their requirements. Get the word right, understand what it is, and pray over it appropriately. If God, for example, said I will be with you till the end of the age, you should not be asking Him to be with you because He already commited to it. Instead, you should be thanking Him, declaring and living like He is with you. If He said He answers prayer according to His will, then you have to find His will on a particular thing first, then do or claim it.
Fill yourself with the word so as to effectively pray. God is watching over His word we bring back to Him, to fulfill it. That’s His commitment and He will not fail.

“The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” Jeremiah 1:12

Shalom children of God.

Making the Word Work for You (v)
Obey and Live by it’s Counsel (13/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

John15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” – KJV

People do certain things in God’s name, not because they really love and desire to genuinely obey God, but because of what they want to recieve from Him. It’s a selfish attitude, a form of ‘bribing’ God to win His favour as king Saul did. It’s a ‘deal’ kind of relationship with God. When things are fine and one is benefiting, you appear loyal to God. But when He seems not to favour you, you want to try other ways. Little thought is given to choosing to obey and purposing to live by the counsel of God in daily practice. Before the word works on our circumstances, it must begin with us.

God is more interested in moulding our character than all the excitements of His wondrous works He can do. Unfortunately, many want to only look at the pain free side of God’s working in us. Thats why He will allow certain pains or seeming failures to come our way to build character, His nature in us. Before, or as we tell the word to others and expect results in them, it should have worked, or is working on us similarly. It’s a double edged sword, working on the sender and receiver equally.

To abide in the word is not an on and off affair. Its an unwavering commitment to know it and to go by what it says in all matters of life. It means always asking, ‘what does the word say’, and doing just that. Life offers many things and choices; good and bad, right and wrong, sound and misleading advice. We must choose to face them all as guided by the counsel of God’s word which is solid and stands the test of time because its backed by God Who doesn’t change. Go by it, however unpleasant it might appear. All other advice not based on biblical principles, however appealing it may appear at the moment, will one day crumble. It’s like foundation of sand.

Choose to obey God’s voice for yourself, not necessarily for any good returns you expect, but for what it is: God’s holy word. Purpose to lead your life; job, career, relationships, family or decisions by the guidance of His word. Then you shall ask whatever you will, and it will be granted, says Jesus.

1Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Shalom children of God. Have a great weekend.

Making the Word Work for you (iv)
Speak the Word (12/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 11:23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” – NIV

After you have filled yourself with the word, believe and meditate on it day and night, and your thought patterns are ordered by it, it’s time the word is applied to your life situations and environment. The word has to be spoken out to effect what it was intended. The bible teaches that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. When your heart is full of the word, your speech will naturally be ordered according to it.

Words are powerful as previously noted. They are creative. Eternal destinies are embedded on them. God created and brought forth what we see by the power of the spoken word. We have been given the privilege to be co-creators through what we speak. Words can heal or destroy, lift up or crush. Spoken words are the means by which the spiritual world comes to act on our behalf. They carry the spiritual authority one subscribes to. That’s why the bible says DEATH and LIFE are in the power of the tongue and each one will enjoy the fruit of what they speak (Proverbs 18:21). It’s the more reason we need to watch what we speak.

Jesus said whosoever shall say, believing, will be done for him. It’s anyone, not a selected few. One must speak, backed by faith, to the mountain(read situations of life) by the authority of God in His word, or else it will not move. Some speak and yet don’t believe what they say. No wonder the mountains don’t move. Speak forth the word, don’t let the mountain intimidate you. And Jesus concluded by saying you shall have whatsoever you SAY. Too much word unspoken is like a dormant dynamite, powerful, but useless when it has not exploded. It’s God’s word, gone out of His mouth, that effects what it is sent for(Isaiah 55:11). God watches over His word, spoken over situations, to perform it. That is the wonderful victorious reigning life we have been called to enjoy in Christ. Praise be to God!

Jeremiah 1:12 “The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Matthew 8:8 “The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Shalom children of God.

Making the Word Work For You (iii)
Meditate on the Word (11/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”(KJV)

Joshua was just taking over leadership from Moses. He had an enormous task to deliver the Israelites to the promised land. Among the instructions God gave him for the success of his mission, was to stick to the law, God’s word to them. His success in the assignment was hinged on his careful observance and commitment to God’s word. Three things he was to do with the law: not let it depart from his mouth (speak the word), meditate on it day and night, and to do what it says (obey it). Then prosperity and good success would follow. We focus on meditation for now.

Meditation is a process of taking deep reflective thought, understanding and allowing the word to sink in and become part of you. It’s closest anology is the digestive process of food. Eating, enjoying and filling one’s stomach is the first step. The body then further breaks down the food into much smaller particles, extracts the nutrients therein which get into the body system to actually nourish it. The wastes are eliminated. That’s what meditation does to our spiritual lives. It makes the word we took in through listening, reading or study to be part of our system and we are nourished. That is what actually makes us grow in the Lord, be transformed and yield visible fruit.

Beyond the nice sweet word you hear or read, the shouts of excitement as the word comes forth, is another deliberate act of meditation. Without it, the word simply passes by and is soon forgotten. Let the word you heard replay in your mind the same way a cow chews the curd to refine the food it hurriedly ate. Interrogate it. Think over it. Fit your situation and life into it. Allow it to search, challenge, correct, guide, rebuke, encourage or comfort you. Before you know, it has become part of your whole life system which naturally comes out in what you think, speak, decide or do. Then everyone shall see a healthy fruitful strong Christian in word and deed, manifesting the God nature. This is God’s plan for each one of us.

Psalms 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

Shalom children of God.

Making the Word Work For You (ii)
Read, Listen and Study (10/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Acts17:11: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

There is a price for knowledge acquisition. Some are too lazy to read and study the word of God by themselves. Entirely depending on others makes you susceptible to being misled. Not all that is passed on to us is the authentic word of God. It’s therefore critical that you get it first hand for yourself and whatever else you get from others should be compared and weighed against it. Alot of adulteration of God’s word goes on around us, leading to falsehoods.

The Bereans did this daily. They heard apostle Paul preach but went back to compare what he said with the written scriptures. They were commended for that. Countless number of people have been led astray because they took only what the preacher said as total truth, without testing it against the written word. Men can err and misfire. Others have hidden intentions but use the word to achieve it. But we are safer crosschecking and ascertaing the truth ourselves. We are tasked to test ALL spirits behind what we hear, see, read or listen to (1 John 4:1). Whatever is from God we take. Whatever is not, we leave out.

Apostle Paul similarly adviced his mentee, Timothy, to study so as not to be ashamed, but approved before God and the people he ministered to as he rightly divided the word of God. Study goes into depths and the heart of any matter, revealing the truth or any fallacies. Then one is able to sieve truth from error. Friends, let’s get to the word, be rooted in it and fill our hearts and minds with its knowledge. The word will only work for those who are knowledgeable about it and apply its principles. You can’t apply what you don’t know. And you cannot acquire knowledge untill you seek it by spending time to read, study, listen to others expound it. Fill yourself with the word. Delight and be rooted in it.

2Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Shalom children of God.

The Cleansing Power of the Word (6/12/2019)

John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

Joh 17:17,19: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth…. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

The word of God is powerful in every way in its working. As one reads, meditates, believes, acts and speaks it, it comforts, encourages, rebukes, challenges, transforms, convicts, purifies, discerns, speaks. In the verses above, Jesus focused on the cleansing power of the Word. As He spoke it to the disciples, the word was working to cleanse and purify them. And He declared them clean by the power of that word. In His prayer before physical departure, Jesus asked His Father to sanctify the disciples through the truth, His word being truth. Sanctification is purification, cleanliness from sin.

This is why it’s very important that we spend time in the word; to read, study, listen, meditate, speak and act on it in faith. Without our knowledge, the sanctification and transformation process will take place in us. And the fruit of righteousness will be seen in our lives. Unfortunately, many have time for everything else except the word! That’s a trick from the enemy to deprive us of the most valuable thing in our walk with God. Purpose to spend time in the word.

Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Shalom children of God.

The Convicting Power of the Word (5/12/2019)

Acts 2:37: “Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?”(KJV)

Apostle Peter was speaking under a heavy anointing of the Holy Spirit to worshippers gathered in Jerusalem from different parts of the world. When they marveled how these Jews spoke their own languages by the Spirit, Peter stood and explained what was happening, in the process, preaching God’s word to them as guided by the Holy Spirit. The word pricked their hearts, and they asked what to do.

Many of us could agree that when we heard the word of God at some point, it created a heavy conviction. It touched so deeply, sometimes eliciting deep emotions. Some get tempted to even think the (genuine) preacher knew about their secrets and talked about them publicly. This as well happens as we meditatively read the Bible individually. The word of God is alive and active. It’s God Himself speaking through it. That’s why it searches upto the hidden intentions and reveals secrets in people’s hearts that no one knows. When this happens, please respond positively. God means well for you.

The Holy Spirit uses God’s word to enable us see ourselves as God sees us. When what He tells us is contrary to what we thought we are, we feel convicted. The purpose of conviction is to make us see the need to repent and turn to God. He does not convict to condemn, but to turn us, in love, to His ways. The preacher, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is a great instrument in God’s hand to deliver soul searching messages that draw men’s hearts to God as Peter did. When this anointing is lost, and other interests take precedence, preachers become more of ‘good’ public speakers, entertainers or even comedians (which have their place) and the word appears less effective. Yet it isn’t.

Heb 4:12 “For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Jer 17:9-10 “The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.”

Shalom children of God.