Category: Uncategorized

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

To fully release your potential (27/6/2020)

1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” – NIV

Paul was in the middle of discussing spiritual gifts. He brought in the importance of love without which all gifting is worthless. And adds how growth from childhood to manhood changes many things. As earlier noted, we outgrow some habits as we mature. Among them is pettiness of reasoning, thought and action. We see things from a more strategic and broader view.

So much potential been deposited in us by our Creator. He gifted us to serve and help others become the best they were made to be. It is until we outgrow childish mentality and mature that we can be able to realise and fully release our potential in the world. There are things God can’t show or do through a person who has not matured to some level. There is a level of ministry that one can operate in only if they are grown up. And this happens for several other areas in life.

It’s my humble prayer and urge to all that we seek to be the best God made us to be. If not, the world will miss our gifting. Some are preoccupied with things they were never made to do. Others have settled for so little and yet much more is in them to bless the world. Let it not be that when we get to the other side of eternity we realise how much we could have achieved for the glory of God and the blessing of humanity — and yet we didn’t because we didn’t grow into our full potential and gifting. That will be an eternal regret!

Hebrews 5:11-12 “There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. There has been enough time for you to be teachers — yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God’s message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk.”

Shalom children of God. Blessed Sunday

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

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.” – NIV

In the ups and downs of life, many things happen. There are nice and pleasant things. There are nasty and horrible ones too. We fall and rise up, stagger and stabilise. That’s what Israel went through. Even in their worst situations, God still promised to restore them. In the verses above, He asks them to forget the past because He was doing a new thing.

Whatever the past was, good or bad, God gives new chances and beginnings. He is God of another chance who heals, restores, forgives and comforts again. He wipes the past away. Even if the past was good, He has better things ahead. He says do not dwell on the past. The more you dwell on the past, the less you see or perceive the new thing God is doing. From the wasteland, lose, hopelessness, He makes a way and causes a blossom.

Let this encourage you today. God heals and restores the past. Arise from the shadows of the valley, from the guilt and pains of the past. Cast your past to Him. Let God’s light shine upon you. See the new things God is doing in your life. Forget the past. Leave it to Him.

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

Shalom. Peaceful week

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” – NIV

Solomon had laboured to explain how there is a time for everything under the sun. He now describes how hard people work and wonders what people gain out of it. He concludes that people work to be happy while they live. This is true even today. Whatever people do, they aim at deriving satisfaction and fulfillment from their hard work through earning or utilisation and release of their potential.

The years God gives us in this life are few even if one lived to be a hundred, in comparison to eternity. While we go through much, nice and not very pleasant situations of life, we can enjoy our lives and the blessing of God upon our labours. God promised to bless the work of our hands. To be blessed is to be happy. God’s plans for us are always for welfare and for good, not for evil.

As we live this life and the years God gives us, let’s enjoy them in the Lord. All our endeavors and labours without God will not satisfy. Many think they can do without God and enjoy wealth or the things they possess. Even with all one may posses, without God, nothing really satisfies. It all becomes vanity, like chasing after wind. And yet many are into deception of focusing only on work and possessions without God!

Luke 12:15, 21 “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” … “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor. Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 9:27 “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…”

Death is a painful reality we live with in this life. It is an enemy and it will be with us until it has been fully conquered and thrown into hell for eternity. As it takes our loved ones, we feel it’s cruel arm, and yet we can’t stop it, despite the best efforts in medical and self care in all ways. When the appointed time of our departure comes, we leave. We are experiencing alot of this now.

Death was a result of sin after the fall of man (Rom 6:23). God will destroy sin and death, renew all things and those who believe in Him shall enter an eternity without evil. Physical death then, is a transition from mortality to immortality, the temporary to eternal and a rest from their labours for those in Christ. It’s a glorious time, to be much looked up to, but a deep pain for those left behind. Let’s be comforted that our loved ones in Christ who die are in glory with the Lord. But those who don’t know, nor love God are dreadfully lost for eternity!

As we go through life, knowing that we too will go that way, let’s prepare ourselves to meet our Creator. Physical death is an appointment for all, but after that is the judgement. Death is not the end. It’s a transition to an eternity we must prepare for while here on earth. The Lord calls us to live for Him and His service as we await our appointment.

May God comfort all who have lost dear ones!

Revelation 14:13 “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 91:1-2 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High  will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” – NIV

Psalm 91 gives powerful words of assurance of God’s protection on His children. The promise is to whoever will choose to make God his refuge and fortress. A refuge is a place one runs to for safety from danger. In war, fortresses provide good protection from enemy sight, access and arrows. The Lord is a refuge and fortress to those who trust in Him. The enemy cannot see, access nor succeed in shooting you.

Paul mentions the fiery darts of the enemy ever being short at us in the spiritual warfare we are engaged in (Eph 6). But as we dwell in the shelter of the Most High, none of them will reach us. Even with trouble all around us, we shall be safe and secure in Him. In Him we find peaceful rest amidst trouble.

It’s God’s commitment to protect and shield those in Him. He does not fall short of His promises. In the perilous times we are in, with so much going on around us which seems to create uncertainty and fear, choose to dwell in the shelter of God Most High, believe His report about you and say of Him, “He is my refuge, strength, comfort and fortress.” And rest in Him. It’s well with you in the Lord.

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;  the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – NIV

The constant battles and challenges we are engaged in eventually drain strength and can wear us out. As a result, fatigue and burn out set in and people give up or surrender to negative situations despite knowing the right things to do. Jesus endured the horribly painful cross, its shame and fierce opposition from evil men because of the joy that lay ahead of Him. We are encouraged to fix our eyes on Him so that we do not grow weary and lose heart.

Jesus was tried and tempted in every we are but never gave in. The great heroes of faith too went through very terrifying trials but never lost heart. Let their example and testimony encourage us in our faith. They overcame. We too shall overcome. Sufficient grace was upon them to endure. We too have sufficient grace to go through.
It’s the devil’s intention to bombard us with so much from every side and throw thoughts of quiting. Do not quit!

Looking to Jesus, learning from the examples of those who went ahead of us, focusing on the prize and reward ahead will strength our commitment and perseverance to go on. You are not alone going through it. Victory is promised to us, if we don’t grow weary. As we trust God daily, He renews our strength. We shall overcome because we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

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.”

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.”

Shalom. Blessed Sunday

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Romans 13:11-13 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”

Sleep is a picture of rest, inactivity, passiveness or not being alert. It is associated with night or a period when evil is common and has overtaken many. Paul urged the believers to wake up from insensitivity so that they understand the times. He associates sleep with deeds of darkness. So if anyone who is a believer is still involved in deeds of darkness, he is in slumber.

We are children of the day, of light and not of darkness. Those who sleep do so at night. The believer’s meddling with the works of the flesh as mentioned in verse 13 are in slumber. But putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and not gratifying the acts of the flesh, is being awake and walking in the light.

God asks those called by His name to awake by doing away with works of darkness. When in slumber, one cannot discern the times, especially how near the coming of the Lord is. Paul said we are not of the night so that that day will take us unawares. But we are children of the day; sober and alert, and that His coming will not be a surprise. Let’s heed God’s warning call and awake if any has gotten to slumber.

Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”

Shalom children of God. Blessed week

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 103:1-2 “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—…”

This is a psalm of gratitude. An attitude of praise and thanksgiving makes us look at the good things God has done. Honestly, there is much God has done and continues to do in everyone’s life. This is to those who believe in Him or not. The reason many are not thankful is that they have their own expectations of what they want God to do. When it doesn’t happen as they wish, it appears as if God has failed them.

A thankful attitude should be deliberate. You choose to tell your soul to praise. As you do, you remember what He has done, the benefits of salvation out of His goodness. God expects praise and worship out of us. After healing ten lepers, Jesus was surprised that only one came back to give thanks. Like them, God does for all of us many good things, but few come back to Him to give thanks. Instead, most people are looking out for what is not going right and shout about it, but are silent on the good.

Thanksgiving glorifies God, makes us not forget what He does, encourages our faith, creates hope, establishes us in the faith and enables us find peace and rest for our souls only in God. It keeps fear, uncertainty, anger and all sorts of distractions away. It gives assurance to our souls, that it is well, despite any present challenges. Purposefully be thankful to God. Bless the Lord O my soul!

Luke 17:17-18 “Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Shalom children of God.

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 36:2 “For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.” – KJV
Psalm 78:36-37 “But then they would flatter him with their mouths,  lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.” – NIV
Proverbs 29:5 “Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.” – NIV

To flatter is to give excessive, insincere praise to someone usually to impress them win some favour. Flattery is deception. It portrays a nice picture from the words they speak and facial expressions, but inwardly they are selfish and deadly. Those who believe these flatteries get very disappointed when reality comes out at the end and they discover they were deceived. It hurts deeply.

The above scriptures show that people can flatter themselves, God and others. Self flattery is praise of oneself out of pride of status or achievement. Flattering God is lying to Him with praise in your lips yet your heart is far away and not loyal to Him. Flattering others is insincere exaggerated praise of others even when in your heart you know the truth. We are urged to speak the truth in love, not cover up and flatter.

Either of all that is deception. God looks into the heart, beyond what people speak with their mouth and act out. He calls us to live in sincerity of heart, word and deed. Be yourself, speak the truth in love and respect. Seek favour from God. By flattering, you lie. Flattery is destructive and betrays friendships and relationship with God. It’s not sustainable.

Ephesians 4:15 “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

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.