Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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Jeremiah 1:4-5 “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nation’s.” – NIV

Among some of the most important questions in life every human being should ask is, ‘why was I created?’ Why do I exist?’ It’s noteworthy that we are no accidents in this world. We have a Creator God, Who must have had a definite reason for creating us. God told Jeremiah he was made for a specific role even before he came to existence. And so is each of us.

We can only understand the purpose of anything from the mind of its maker. That’s why we have operating manuals for any new item to guide on its best way to use and maximize its benefits. Looking elsewhere for alternative opinions is misleading. Likewise, for anyone of us to find our purpose of existence so as to live meaningfully, we must, of necessity, get back to our Creator.

Life outside God its Maker is a gamble. We may try to fill it up with the needs and wants of life, but these can never define us. The more we acquire, the more we want and the more empty we feel. The earlier we go beyond these things to understand our Creator’s purpose for our lives, the quicker the life puzzle fits in. And that’s of paramount importance to know.

Whatever else we acquire in this life are simply to enable us become what we were made for. They are not an end in themselves. If our only focus is on these things, we miss the mark and we lose out on our God given purpose. There is much more to our lives than what this world and other sources may tell us. Seek God’s purpose for your life. Consult the manual He gave us, His word. Therein is truth for real, meaningful and maximum living.

Psalms 139:16 “… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – NIV

Jesus had indictated that He was leaving them soon. The disciples were troubled. Then Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit Who would be with them, doing what His physical presence was doing. We should particularly note the way Jesus described the Holy Spirit using personal pronouns. He is a person, the third person in the Trinitarian God Head.

From Jesus’ words, the Holy Spirit comes from the Father. He is an advocate sent to help the believer. He is the Spirit of truth as differentiated from the deceptive spirits of error. Unlike Jesus Who came and would soon be away physically, the Holy Spirit would be with the disciples forever. He is only given to, and known by the believer who has voluntarily accepted Him. The world uses logic to accept things. The Holy Spirit is a spirit not physically seen. So the world rejects Him because they can’t see Him.

The Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son. His presence is the presence the Father and the Son. He is God the Holy Spirit, having all the qualities of God. Some have wrongly referred to Him as an impersonal force using ‘it’. One cardinal role He plays is to ALWAYS lead people to the Father and the Son. Therefore, any spirit that claims to come from God, but leads people away from God or contradicts/distorts the Word of God isn’t the Holy Spirit. It is a counterfeit spirit.

1 John 4:1-3 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.” – NIV

Every human being is born into a specific generation by God’s design and purpose. No one is an accident in this world. You are in this generation for a specific God ordained purpose. David, the great king in Israel, recognised the will of God and served it in his generation. After completing it well, he died a satisfied man.

It’s fundamental, dear friends, that we ask ourselves, and God our creator, what we are here for. And when we know it, to serve with our whole being. It’s all that matters.
Sadly, many have no idea what they live for in this world. Many live by the forces in their environment, without a clear unmistakable personal assignment from their creator God.

The realisation and pursuit of our divine purpose will guarantee a fully satisfying end to this brief life, and will continue into a blissful eternity. Many will look back at the end of this life at the lost opportunities to do what they were actually created to do, and what really matters. But unfortunately too late! They were probably ignorant of it, or were taken by the popular opinion, pleasure, or blatant disobedience to God’s will for them. I pray you will not be one of them. Seek His will for you. What your Creator made you for is all that matters at the end.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 14:16-18 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

As Jesus continued to reassure His troubled disciples, He promised to ask the Father to give another advocate, the comforter, the Holy Spirit. He would help and be with them the same way Jesus had been doing. The disciples felt like orphans, left and unattended to by the physical departure of Jesus. They imagined the loneliness, the vulnerability from suffering and attacks of their enemies.

Fear, loneliness, rejection, vulnerability and feelings of abandonment affect us similarly today. Our hearts get broken by various situations of life. We hurt and go through pain. All such situations make our hearts cry out for the warmth of comfort and support. The ministry of the Holy Spirit extends to cater for our comfort needs today. There is so much this world throws at us. Jesus said we would face trouble in the world (John 16:33).

The Holy Spirit presence in every believer gives the comfort that cushions us from the devastating effects of the stresses and challenges of life. He is present all the time with us. He wants to commune with us, assure us God’s care, presence, protection and provision. This is what peacefully settles our hearts despite the storms and troubles of life. Trust Him always. He is present with you.

Matthew 28:20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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John 17:4-5 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” – NIV

Jesus is making His last prayer before departure from earth. He now looks back at His work and reports to the Father Who sent Him that the work was done. He narrates how He did it, and what He desired the disciples to do to carry on the work He left them with. He extends that prayer beyond the disciples at that time to His follows for all generations to come to date.

Jesus prayed to be glorified. Glorification only and rightly comes after the assignment is well done. No winner or victor is crowned before running and winning the race, or before the battle is won. And the winners should have run the race according to the rules. For every overcomer and faithful servant who executes the tasks assigned by their Master, there awaits a crowning ceremony, a glorification from God Almighty that cannot be equalled with the grandest worldly ceremony!

Such is the joy of living out your purpose. It brings out a satisfaction that no other achievement can bring in a person’s life. One day, all our lives will come to an end in this earthly journey. Then we shall transition into the other side of eternity. And without doubt, we shall look back at what we lived for and what we achieved. I pray you will say like Jesus, that you fulfilled and finished the work God your Creator gave you to do in the world. Live for God! Paul did so and died a satisfied man!

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” – NIV

A key part of the helping ministry of the Holy Spirit is in the area of prayer. Paul notes that we are weak and do not know how to pray as we ought to. For prayer to be answered, one of its requirements is that it is offered according to God’s will. Sometimes we do not know the will of God in the things we are praying for. But by the help of the Spirit, we are guided to pray according to what is in the mind of God.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He knows what is in the heart and mind of God. He also knows us fully, our shortcomings and limitations. In His helping and intercessory role, He bridges that gap so that we are in true communion with God. Our prayers will not be vain repetitions and recitations without power. They will be spot on as we pray for ourselves and others. In this way, we shall always be in God’s will. He makes prayer a lively living communion with God.

The Holy Spirit, knowing the burdens in God’s heart which requires intercession, carries the same to our hearts. Then our hearts carry the burdens of God through deep prayer enabled by the Spirit. Recall Jesus’ burdened intercession in the garden of Gethsemane. There was such travails of the soul that almost tore his body. Such are groans of Spirit led prayer that saves multitudes and promotes God’s kingdom. Will you similarly allow the Holy Spirit help in your weakness in prayer? Out of such submission will result prayers that change lives and transforms the world.

1 John 5:14-15 “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.”

Shalom children of God.

The intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit (23/2/2022)

Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” – NIV

A key part of the helping ministry of the Holy Spirit is in the area of prayer. Paul notes that we are weak and do not know how to pray as we ought to. For prayer to be answered, one of its requirements is that it is offered according to God’s will. Sometimes we do not know the will of God in the things we are praying for. But by the help of the Spirit, we are guided to pray according to what is in the mind of God.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He knows what is in the heart and mind of God. He also knows us fully, our shortcomings and limitations. In His helping and intercessory role, He bridges that gap so that we are in true communion with God. Our prayers will not be vain repetitions and recitations without power. They will be spot on as we pray for ourselves and others. In this way, we shall always be in God’s will. He makes prayer a lively living communion with God.

The Holy Spirit, knowing the burdens in God’s heart which requires intercession, carries the same to our hearts. Then our hearts carry the burdens of God through deep prayer enabled by the Spirit. Recall Jesus’ burdened intercession in the garden of Gethsemane. There was such travails of the soul that almost tore his body. Such are groans of Spirit led prayer that saves multitudes and promotes God’s kingdom. Will you similarly allow the Holy Spirit help in your weakness in prayer? Out of such submission will result prayers that change lives and transforms the world.

1 John 5:14-15 “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.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

I know and have these things…

Revelation 3:15-17 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” – NIV

They felt they had arrived. They told themselves that they were now rich and wealthy and didn’t need anything anymore. They lost their thirst and hunger after God and saw no need to seek Him. But in God’s eyes, they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked! Because of that, the church in Laodicea became detestably lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, to their Master who would best spit them out unless they repented of this attitude. They developed the attitude of the rich young fool in Jesus’ parable who thought material wealth was everything (Luke 12:18-21).

A clear sign that one is retrogressing rather than progress is to think they now know and have it all and despise or refuse to learn. They criticise others, seeing how he is better than them, and settle for what they already have and in the process, lose even the little they had got. Their pride blinds them to anything new God is doing, ideally cutting them off a living relationship with God. They dwell on, and boast about their past glory and achievements with no new experiences with God. Now blind!

How often the experienced, older, knowledgeable, famous fall into this trap! Escape comes from the realisation that no one knows everything alone. God is ever doing new and better things. We can never exhaust His vast treasures, however great revelations you have so far acquired. Acknowledging this in humility always keeps us at the feet of Jesus, going deeper as we learn from Him Who is meek and lowly in heart. It also gives the right attitude of love and respect, never despising others. May God help us!

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.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 8:10-11 “Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”_ – NIV She had been caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees and teachers of the law paraded her in public, and everyone was eager to punish her by stoning to death according to the law. They sought to use this incident to hear what would say and thereby trap Him. After Jesus asked anyone without sin to throw the first stone, they all departed, one by one till the woman was left alone. The very people condemning and eager to stone her, now couldn’t. And Jesus said, neither do I condemn you, but leave your life of sin. Such refreshing words from the Lord!One can only imagine the shame, fear and hopelessness of this woman. Everyone looked at her jeering, laughing. She deserved to die. A sinner. But the very people eager to stone her to death were as guilty of hidden sin, including the pharisees and teachers of the same law they wanted to use to kill her. Convicted of their own sin, they left. This is the hypocrisy of our world; condemning others when guilty yourself. Just because their sins were not open like this woman, didn’t make them faultless. Neither is this a justification to cover up sin or to reject correction when you are wrong.Love covers a multitude of sin. The woman was an adulterer. Jesus didn’t ignore that. That’s why He told her to forsake sin. Let love prevail even as we correct and seek to restore people who have sinned. To those who feel ashamed, wounded, despised, rejected and condemned by others because of the wrongs they did, if you are genuinely repentant before God who searches and knows your heart, Jesus’ words of assurance come to you too, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and leave your life of sin.” Be healed from self condemnation. Go in peace with your head raised high. God forgives and loves you._Romans 8:1-2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Back to the vomit!

2 Peter 2:20-22 “If people have escaped from the corrupting forces of the world through their knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and then are again caught and conquered by them, such people are in a worse state at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been much better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the sacred command that was given them. What happened to them shows that the proverbs are true: “A dog goes back to what it has vomited” and “A pig that has been washed goes back to roll in the mud.” – GNB

Being in Christ makes one escape the corruption of the world, all its evils and ways. But Peter addressed false teachers who had had known the Lord, but turned back from Him and were in a more dangerous state than they were before they came to Christ. They went back to their former ways as a dog goes back to its vomit or a washed pig going back to wallow in the mud.

As Jesus pointed out, whoever turns from God gets more demons than they had before, making their state worse than it was (Matt 12:43-45). All this is brought about by the decisions people make to continue in the Lord or not. God has made every provision for us to stand in the faith and not fall away regardless of the magnitude of the trials we face. To give in and be lured back into the world is a choice. God’s grace is sufficient to sustain even in most painful situations of life.

Choose to remain in the Lord and not go back to the detestable wicked ways of the world. Paul stated that nothing in all creation shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ(Rom 8:38-39). Should you fall victim, return to the Lord. He promised to forgive and heal our backsliding. He committed not to lose any who are in Him. He prayed and continues to interceed for us to stand. We can stand till the end.

Hebrews 10:38-39 “My righteous people, however, will believe and live; but if any of them turns back,  I will not be pleased with him.” We are not people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith and are saved.”

Shalom children of God.