Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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1 John 2:3-6 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” – NIV

Many people confess knowing God even if they don’t believe in Him, let alone choosing to obey Him. Even those who believe in Him struggle with obedience especially where God’s commands contradict their desires. John clarifies what knowing God is, and ties it to obedience to His commands. He uses practical situations of what people normally say and seeks to clarify to such claimers what the truth is, that you can only say you know God personally if you are living in obedience to Him.

John further links knowing God with love for Him. One cannot obey God from their hearts if they don’t truly love Him. This knowledge of God comes through personal relationship with Him. That is how He reveals Himself to those who live in love and obedience to Him. Anything else apart from this is living a life of a lie.

Let’s examine ourselves. Do our confessions of knowing God match with our obedience to Him? This is a choice we make daily amidst the many things that seek to divert and make us compromise our relationship with God. And what God asks us to do in obedience to Him, is not too difficult to do. Even when we find it hard in our human abilities, He readily gives us strength to obey His commands. He needs our willing commitment.

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

1 John 5:3 “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 16:13-15 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.””_ – NIV Another key ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal what lies ahead and is yet to come. In the scripture above, Jesus connects what the Spirit will say to what the Father and the Son say. The Spirit hears and recieves from them and relays only that to the saints. Part of what He relays concerning the future. This is what makes Him the Spirit of prophecy. He has done this from the begining.Why does God reveal what is yet to come? Because He doesn’t want us to be taken unawares by what will happen. He wants us to know and prepare ourselves accordingly. Unfortunately, even after this, many ignore the word of the Lord. He also wants to glorify Himself as God Who knows the end from the begining. And that His purposes remain regardless of what Satan and his human and demonic cohorts do in attempt to overthrow Him. He is in control of the future.The Holy Spirit accomplishes this ministry through those He gifts with prophetic ministry. But extra caution needs to be taken to avoid the counterfeit prophecies Jesus warned us about. Some of what is given as prophecy from God is not from God, but divination coming in the name of God. Jesus said you will know them by their fruit (Matt 7:15-20). A true prophet from God will carry God’s character, seek entirely to glorify God and direct all glory to God as the Spirit does. But where attention, glory and worship is directed to the prophet more than God, and the prophet enjoys it, something has gone wrong! The Holy Spirit speaks only as directed, and gives all glory to God. So should the vessel of the prophet!_2 Peter 1:20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” – NIV

Moses was so privileged, one could say, to have been adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter as her son after picking him from the water. That entitled him to the best of everything in the then most powerful kingdom in the world. But Egypt was a heathen idolatrous kingdom in which other gods were worshiped and alot of sin against God Most High was committed. Despite all those privileges and sensual gratification, Moses deep within wasn’t satisfied because his God was not honoured. He decided to join and suffer with his people than remain and enjoy temporary pleasures of sin in the palace. He opted for the eternal.

Sin offers temporary enjoyment. But the victims don’t normally think about the bitter sting of its consequences to themselves, their families and generations to come, into eternity. Yes, you may enjoy that moment as you cheat on your spouse, as you plan that deal to steal, to bring down or even kill others so that you take the plunder or win favours, as you hide in those dark corners doing some mischief. You may even emerge as heros from a ‘successful’ mission, having left others mourning and totally devastated, because of the harm you dealt on them.

Government/organisational/community programs under your jurisdiction could be grumbling because you diverted and enriched yourself with the funds, and millions of would-be beneficieries continue to suffer – as you watch them!  And you give all sorts of excuses and doctored reports to justify your evil. Please turn away from evil and come to God. It would be good to always remember what the wise man Solomon said about the effects of temporary enjoyment of evil:

“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.” Proverbs 9:17-18.

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

John 16:13-15 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.””_ – NIV Of particular interest in the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life is the directing of praise and glory to Jesus. He guides us into truth which He gets from Jesus. He says only what He has heard, and nothing of His own. As He relays the message to us, He acknowledges that the glory belongs to Jesus. And Jesus in return acknowledges it is the Father Who gave Him. The Triune God works in perfect unity, each playing His role and recognising the others.The Holy Spirit empowers the believer and uses them to do many great works. The early church experienced it first hand when they did what Jesus had done, and even more. We too experience this in our time when the Spirit moves to manifest great works in saving, healing, transforming, comforting, teaching and reviving His people. Some of these great works overwhelm people who naturally will heap worship and praises to the human vessels. We should be careful to quickly direct the glory to God and not ourselves. No one who operates and speaks by the Spirit of God draws attention to themselves in pride whatever happens through them. We should always remember that we are vessels in the hand of God Almighty to serve His purposes through the Holy Spirit for the good of God’s people. To assume for yourself the glory that is due only to God Who is using you to accomplish His works, is sin. Whenever you find yourself enjoying the limelight, busking in the glory, and feeling good that men praise you, know that a different spirit, not the Holy Spirit, is taking over. To God alone belongs all the glory._Isaiah 42:8 “I alone am the Lord your God. No other god may share my glory; I will not let idols share my praise.”_Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” – NIV

Yesterday we discussed about deception that goes with flattery.There is a deception that makes people think they can live their lives the way they wish in the pleasures of the flesh, and somehow impress God with some good deeds. To God, one reaps what they sow. That is justice and righteousness on which His throne is founded. He cannot be mocked and arm twisted to go contrary to His principles. Those who flatter Him with their lips but with hearts far away can only expect what they rightfully deserve from the just Judge of the universe.

This self reflection should be guided by the questions; ‘why am I doing what I am doing’? Am I responding to please my selfish desires or to please God? The Holy Spirit is always guiding us into paths of righteousness that glorify God. But at times, many disobey His instructions and do what appeals to their senses or public opinion. They live in disobedience to God and yet expect His full blessings.

The fruit of our lives is a reflection of who we have chosen to yield to in our hearts, the flesh or to the Spirit. Each has its consequences; destruction for following after the flesh, and eternal life for obedience to the Spirit. The choice is yours. But God cannot be mocked. We reap from Him only what we have sown. How and what are you presently sowing?

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Judges 8:4-5 “Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.””

Gideon and his men were pursuing the Midianites. They had largely defeated them. But they needed to complete the victory by capturing the two Midianite kings who had escaped. It had been an intensive battle and they were physically exhausted. They needed food to replenish their strength. Despite the exhaustion, they kept pursuing to the end.

Such is a common occurrence in life. Some of the battles, plans and dreams we encounter and pursue in life leave us tired. The temptation to give up is so real. After spending all the abilities and energies we have, we will feel like giving it up. The body gives way, the mind stagnates and the will to go on fades. This is the point that separates those who reach their full potential and the partial achievers.

That God is behind what we do does not mean it will be a smooth ride all the way. Obstacles and resistances will be there. The enemy will attempt to use discouragement that comes with burn out and exhaustion to knock us us off the journey. Sometimes this happens when complete victory is just at the door. We are urged not to give up. God is committed to renew our strength and to keep us going till the end. Wait on Him. Keep going. Hold on to Him and His unfailing promises.

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” – NIV

Yesterday we discussed about deception that goes with flattery.There is a deception that makes people think they can live their lives the way they wish in the pleasures of the flesh, and somehow impress God with some good deeds. To God, one reaps what they sow. That is justice and righteousness on which His throne is founded. He cannot be mocked and arm twisted to go contrary to His principles. Those who flatter Him with their lips but with hearts far away can only expect what they rightfully deserve from the just Judge of the universe.

This self reflection should be guided by the questions; ‘why am I doing what I am doing’? Am I responding to please my selfish desires or to please God? The Holy Spirit is always guiding us into paths of righteousness that glorify God. But at times, many disobey His instructions and do what appeals to their senses or public opinion. They live in disobedience to God and yet expect His full blessings.

The fruit of our lives is a reflection of who we have chosen to yield to in our hearts, the flesh or to the Spirit. Each has its consequences; destruction for following after the flesh, and eternal life for obedience to the Spirit. The choice is yours. But God cannot be mocked. We reap from Him only what we have sown. How and what are you presently sowing?

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 25:46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” – NIV

Have you ever thought about eternity? This is a period of time beyond measure, or simply time without end. One can’t even talk in terms of known units of measurement like billions, trillions, quadrillions  of years, because that’s already measurable, however unfathomable it is to our little limited human minds.

To enable some slight understanding of eternity, someone once illustrated it this way: Consider the smallest ant, on a mission to move the whole earth to the farthest star in the universe. The farthest star so far known is 9 billion light years away from earth. A light year is the distance light travels in one year. In one second, light travels at 299,792KMs. One year has over 31.5 million seconds. So in one year, light moves over 9.4trillion KMs. To the farthest star, it’s that distance multiplied 9billion times. That’s already beyond the range of our computations and numbering.

Even with modern supersonic jets, traveling at thousands of KMs per hour, such a  journey is endless. How much more a little ant? And knowing how much the ant carries, when will it complete shifting the entire 6×10^24Kg mass of planet earth? Mission impossible! And yet one day it will complete it. But eternity would have just began!

God’s word teaches that all of us will spend eternity somewhere. Everyone created will live somewhere and never disappear. There are only two destinies, determined by our decisions here on earth: heaven or hell. Heaven is a place of great joy and peace for those to whom Jesus is Savior and Lord. Their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Hell is a place of extreme torment for those who have rejected the Savior and Lord Jesus in their lives. I invite you to give serious thought to the question of where you will spend eternity. Choose to spend it in heaven by choosing Jesus the way. That’s God’s will for all of us.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

Shalom children of God. 

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Growth is a process (22/6/2021)*

Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…”

Growth is not an event but a process which is progressive. At every step, one is becoming better. To the Christian, this process starts the day they receive Christ as Lord and Savior and goes on throughout their lives. For the Colossian Christians, Paul’s prayer was continuous, that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. That would enable them live lives worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way.

As this was happening, they will be bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God. This is continuous and incremental over time. One time you think you really got it. The next time the Spirit teaches you more and you discover you hadn’t known much before. Part of the reason for this is that we may perpetually remain humbly dependent on God and other people. The other is that we can never fully know God.

Progressive growth requires a continuous thirst, hunger, humility and searching after God on our part. The moment you think you have arrived, you stop growing, because you block the Spirit who enables our growth. A tree bears fruit increasingly over the years until full maturity when it bears much fruit. That’s how we are as we grow in the Lord. Let’s cooperate in humilty with an attitude of continuous learning and growth. Continually yearn after Him!

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Shalom children of God.