Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 14:24-26 “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” – NIV

Jesus was teaching as instructed by the Father. He said every word He spoke was from the Father, and were not His own. As He physically went away, this teaching role would continue among the disciples, but through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would teach them everything they needed to know and also remind them of what Jesus had said. There would be no contradiction.

Everything the Spirit teaches is the truth, because He is the Spirit of truth. Being the Spirit behind the writing of the Scriptures, He will never contradict nor falsely distort the written Word. That’s the standard as to whether any teaching is from God or not, and which spirit is behind it. All falsehoods, including false christs, are propagated by counterfeit spirits which are to be discerned and accordingly rejected. Their aim is to divert people from truth to lies.

The Holy Spirit teaches through the scriptures rightly interpreted and applied by those He gifted to teach. We need to sit under such people, but with the Berean attitude of always checking whether what they say is from the scriptures or not (Acts 17:11) regardless whom we hear them from. This requires that one is personally engaged in study as they sit under others as well. So much goes on in the name of God, and yet not from Him!

1 John 4:1 “My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere.” GNB

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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Psalm 3:1-6 “Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” – NIV

David wrote this Psalm when he fled from his son Absalom who forcefully wanted to overthrow him. He conspired with many people and set up a huge army to fight his father David. His subjects, now turned enemies pursued him believing that God would not protect David. But David acknowledges that God is his shield, glory and the lifter of his head from shame and defeat. He was sure God would deliver him when he calls on him in prayer. And God did.

That was the reason he could lie down and sleep and wake up safe – because he was sure beyond doubt that God was sustaining him. He had no fear even if tens of thousands of his enemies surrounded him. Such is the confidence we can have amidst so many forces of the evil one attacking us from every side. Naturally, panic and fear, hopelessness and despair follow such scenarios. But with Christ in us, we can have peaceful rest even amidst so much turmoil, uncertainty and troubles of this world.

Jesus is our peace in the midst of the storms that surround us. It’s only in Him that we are safe and secure, peacefully resting in His finished work and unfailing promises. Our victory is from Him who conquered the devil and his mercinations. Every attempt of the enemy will be destroyed by the God Who holds us safe and securely in His mighty arms. In Him is our victory and sustenance always. Trust in Him.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Acts 1:8 “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – NIV_ The disciples asked whether on Jesus’ return He would restore the kingdom of Israel. But Jesus told them it wasn’t their business to follow that up, but they would become His witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth. They would witness through their transformed lives and the preaching of the gospel. This power is for His glory, not for our fame.The Holy Spirit empowers us to live the God kind of life. None of us in our human abilities can, even for a moment, overcome sin, defeat the devil, practice righteousness and holiness, manifest the fruit of the Spirit and live victorious in Christ. It’s all by His grace and the enabling work of the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus did all He did. He went everywhere doing good, because God was Him. After the disciples were filled with the Spirit, they became powerful witnesses for God wherever they went.The Spirit empowers by bringing us to decision to follow Christ, bringing others to Him, overcoming the lusts of the flesh and the demonic influences, guiding us to do God’s will and leading us to intimate communion in our relationship with God. He drives out fear, guilt and negative forces that want to pull us back, giving us confidence to walk with God. He makes this walk so real, revealing the treasure, assuring of His continual presence so sweet that we would desire nothing more. With this, we can surmount any challenge as we serve Him. Others will see it want to experience the same. _Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.””__John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” – NIV

We all want to be sure that what we believe or proclaim for others to believe is truth we are convinced about. John starts his letter by affirming that the gospel message about Jesus they are preaching is not hear say. They saw Jesus, talked with Him, sat with and touched Him. They were therefore first hand witnesses that truly Jesus is real, and is the light, Who gives eternal life. On the basis of this credible witness, we too can believe.

This letter was written to counter many false teachings that sought to deny the deity of Jesus and His physical appearance. Over the years, this deception would get worse and heretics would use it to water down the authenticity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as a myth. But the gospel is not a myth, but real.

To date we proclaim the same gospel that Jesus is the light, the Word of life, and Savior. Because He lives, He still saves, gives eternal life to those who believe in Him. Because He lives, each of us can have first hand experience with Him today through forgiveness of sin, healing touch and saving experience. The gospel we proclaim is authentic, because Jesus is still alive.

Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 16:8-11 “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”_ – NIV To the none believer in Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict about sin, their need to find the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus, and the fact that judgement will follow for those who reject this offer of salvation from sin through Jesus Christ. Conviction is that deep inner voice within a person, showing them what is right or wrong and what they need to do about it. Every human being gets this conviction within them, especially as they hear the gospel preached. What they do about it is dependent on them in exercise of the freedom of will and choice God gave man.Those who obey that conviction of the Holy Spirit feel remorseful about their sins and come to God in repentance. The Spirit does not convict to condemn, but to correct our ways and bring us to God. This is what leads to conversion of the sinner, enabling them come to Christ to recieve salvation. Those who reject this conviction only harden their hearts more and more. Every preaching of the gospel is used by the Holy Spirit to bring people to that point of decision for Christ or rejecting Him.To the believer, the Holy Spirit uses the word to correct, rebuke, teach and train (2 Tim 3:16). When we make mistakes, He brings us back to the right way through repentance. Again, the conviction is not to condemn, but to correct, to discipline so that we are fully walking by the way pleasing to God. Some still disobey and harden their hearts to this work of the Spirit. But we are urged not to harden our hearts when He convicts us. To those who continuously and outrightly reject Him, judgment will be inevitable. _Hebrews 3:7-8,15 “So then, as the Holy Spirit says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God, as they were that day in the desert when they put him to the test… This is what the scripture says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were     when they rebelled against God.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – NIV

The Bible severally teaches that those who want to follow Christ come out of the world, desist from the worldly ways and live for God. John in the above text speaks against loving the world and all in it. What then is the ‘world’ we are warned against, and to flee from.

The world is a system, a way of doing things, governed by certain principles and beliefs which are usually contrary to God’s will and principles. This is different from the world as creation which we are to love and protect. Characteristic of the world system we are not to love is the lusts of the body, lust of the eyes and pride of life. These are sensual feelings which drive people to plan and do evil, get whatever their eyes admire without self control and boast about what they have achieved while despising others. Such a worldly system is driven by the devil. That’s not how God the Father and His kingdom works.

Anyone who loves and enjoys such a wicked worldly system clearly doesn’t have God’s love which hates evil. The temporary worldly pleasures will pass away with those who love it. But doing God’s will by resisting the world, has assurance that one will live forever in peace. The devil is behind the worldly evil system. He encourages indulgence without limit in the name of freedom, and yet enslaving people and driving them away from God. Choose Christ, resist the devil and the world and live for God’s will.

John 7:7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.”
John 12:31 “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Romans 8:13-16 “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”_- NIV Paul brought another aspect of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He helps us to subdue the flesh and put to death its misdeeds. After that, we are led by the Spirit and no longer by the bodily desires contrary to God’s ways. The Spirit also gives us the assurance that we are God’s children after one is born again. Because salvation is a spiritual matter, it can be difficult to understand it logically with the human mind just as Nichodemus was totally perplexed when Jesus told him to be born again. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand and actualize it.The Holy Spirit enables our new birth into God’s kingdom and our adoption as sons of God. And if sons, we enjoy the liberty, authority and privileges of sonship. This includes the closeness with God whom we can now address as ‘Abba, Father.’ In Christ, God is our Father, and we have access to Him at any one time of day or night. We should have no more fear to approach God. He dearly loves us as His own. He invites us into His presence for communion without restrictions whatsoever. Hallelujah!Sonship also entitles us to God’s blessings and inheritance as heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. In the same way, we are a reflection of our Father to the world. We carry His nature, manifest His character by the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and exercise His authority and power to execute His will and purposes on earth. These are the rights and privileges God Almighty has given those called by His name! What a wonder! What a mystery!_Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”__John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the LORD while you can find him.  Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” – NLT

Many people tend to trivialize, postpone, ignore or reject certain actions and decisions with a feeling that there is still time. In the end, many opportunities are lost, remorseful regrets experienced later in life, and destinies affected, some of them eternally! This is true in every aspect of life, our relationship with God inclusive. Many along the way look back with much regret at lost chances. Worse still, will be the eternal regret for those who are now postponing, or ignoring their commitment to God!

God still pleads with us to seek Him while He can be found, to call on Him while He is near. This call will not be so forever. A time comes when it will not be possible to call or seek and find Him any more! Even those in God who keep disobeying or postponing what God tells them to do in His service, should rethink their ways. Hear what David said in Psalm 32:6 “… Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgement.” NLT

Apostle Paul wrote about the same; “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (ÑLT)

And Jesus, about the irresponsible unprepared virgins at His coming, had this to say; “… Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” (Matthew 25:10)

So, while there is still time and opportunity to give your life to Jesus, be reconciled, and start a relationship with God, and to serve Him, make use of it NOW. One day, it will not be there. It will be too late!

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…”_ – NIV To the believers in the church of Ephesus for whom Paul was thankful, he realised there was alot more they needed to know about God and their relationship with Him. To achieve this, Paul prayed for two things; that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and for enlightenment of their inner eyes of the spirit. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom and revelation, and enlightens our understanding of the deep things of God. Once this happened, they would know God better, understand the hope they have been called to, the glorious inheritance that belongs to them in Christ, and the immeasurable power of God at work in them. That’s the same power that resurrected Jesus from death. There are so many believers with a very shallow knowledge of the God they have believed. They have no idea what glorious hope awaits them, and what great power resides in them. That’s why many give up.The Holy Spirit reveals these things to us. Once we understand, nothing can shake us from the faith. We can exercise the power of the Lord against all forms demonic forces, and our hope will firmly establish us in the Lord. There is so much God has for those in Him. The reason some get shaken and abandon their walk with God for temporary pleasures is that they have not known the treasures of their relationship with God. Only corporate with the Holy Spirit and He will reveal these to you. After that, the treasurs and glories of this world will be nothing in comparison. _Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…”__1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen,  what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Timothy 3:16-17″All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – NIV

Paul was teaching about characteristics of people in the end times. He asked Timothy to trust the teachings he got from him, knowing what kind of person he was. One of Timothy’s advantage was that he had been introduced to the Scriptures early in his life, making him wise towards salvation. It is a lesson for parents and adults to introduce children early to the word of God.

All Scripture was given by divine inspiration for the purpose of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. To teach is to instruct, inform, guide and impart knowledge. How that knowledge is used thereafter depends on the student. The Scriptures teach us about life, how to and how not to live it. There is nothing in life that the scriptures do not give guiding principles on how to approach, because God is concerned about all aspects of life. As you hear, read, study and meditate on it, relate the word to daily living.

We all need to be taught, because we don’t know everything in this life. Because God is the Author and Giver of life, He has a way He wants us to live it for our satisfaction and to His glory. The word of God will teach us His ways so that we please Him in every way. When we hear it, let’s be willing to be taught and learn, and above all to apply what we learn to our lives. The Holy Spirit is present to help us live according to God’s instructions.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet,  a light on my path.”

Shalom children of God.