Grace and Glory ministries

September 4, 2024

Known before we existed! (20/1/2023)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - NIV

In this psalm, we learn that God was involved in our creation. Before we existed, He knew us and set our days. He molded us to be what we are. He knows our every thought and word before we even think and speak. No where can we hide from him since He fills the entire universe. He has our best interests in mind. We are His best.

So thorough is God’s knowledge and plan for us that nothing takes Him by surprise. He planned for all our days before we were born. He has everything lined up already. The best we can do is to submit to His leading to benefit from all He has for us. It has been man’s tendency to hide from God since the fall. That’s satan’s strategy to deny us the best God our Father has for us.

Friend, God knows us in and out. All our times and lives are in His hand. Let’s purpose to live for Him, and all will be well for us. At the end, we can only find true meaning and purpose to life by aligning ourselves to His master plan. All else outside this is a gamble!

Jeremiah 1:5 “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for."

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

The heart that pleases God (19/1/2023)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 51:16-17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;  you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart  you, God, will not despise." - NIV

King David was described as a man after God’s heart. One of the key attributes to his state of heart that touched God, is what is described in psalm 51. He committed adultery, killed the husband of Bathsheba, attempted to conceal the sin and married her. God was angry with him and sent a prophet to rebuke him. His response made the whole difference.

David quickly acknowledged and deeply repented of his sin before God. Acknowledgement and repentance of sin allows God to forgive, draw close, heal, restore and do what He wants to do in one’s life. Some find it hard to apologise and acknowledge failure. They will instead find excuses to cover up the wrong they have done or blame others. Others do more ‘good works’ to appease God. But all He wants is a truly repentant heart.

Repentance takes humility, characterised by genuine brokenness of heart when we do wrong. We faulter in many ways. Progress and growth in our walk with God lies in admiting that we fail and always need God’s help. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. That’s the secret to a heart after God. He will not despise it.

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

James 4:6 "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud   but shows favor to the humble.”

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

When God shatters man’s wisdom! (18/1/2023)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Job 42:3,5-6 "You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ears had heard of you  but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself  and repent in dust and ashes.” - NIV

He had justified himself. He dared God to come and answer him, wondering why He sent him such bitter suffering. His friends too accused him of sining against God for such suffering to come Job’s way. Everyone appeared wise and knowledgeable in their own way. But when God spoke and described His creation, whatever they thought was high and lofty human wisdom faded away.

God’s few questions to Job totally humbled him. He had heard about God whom he believed in, but when God revealed Himself in the splendor of His wisdom and glory, all Job could do was to repent. This is how many people are, trusting their own wisdom to challenge and even accuse God. They despise, seek to correct and discredit His word.

It is futile to challenge God’s wisdom. Satan tried it. He has stired up people in history to challenge God. King Nebuchadnezzar did. Saul of Tarsus did. Some contemporary kings and rulers, using their God given power and authority, have tried to appear wiser than God. Everyone who does it learns a lesson; that the highest wisdom men is foolishness to God. They all end in failure. God is God alone. Besides Him is no other. We can only trust, honour and worship Him.

Daniel 4:37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

September 4, 2024

God’s word: Absolute and final!(16/1/2023)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 "Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." - NIV

Israel was about to enter the promised land. But central to inheriting this promise was their commitment to hear and obey God’s word and instructions. The decrees and laws they were given were complete instructions. They were neither to add nor subtract anything from it, but to keep them. But they failed and alot of disastrous effects followed.

When God speaks, He is not guessing. He knows the end from the begining, and knows what exactly He is saying. The absolutnesss, credibility and finality of God’s word is based on His nature and character. God is God alone. He is all wise, all knowing, all powerful and above Him is no other. Even the wisdom that man may want to use to add to, or subtract from God’s word, is from God.

Satan is also in the mission of distorting the credibility of God’s word and to cast doubt in people’s minds about God. But whatever Satan, or man under satan’s influence may want to do to add to or subtract from God’s word, the word of God remains the truth. His word is forever settled. John solemnly warned against the same as he concluded the book of revelation.

Revelation 22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

Psalm 119:89 "Your word, Lord, is eternal;  it stands firm in the heavens."

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Bless the Lord oh my soul! (R) (15/1/2023)

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 all who believe or not. Many are not thankful because 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 to praise and worship Him. After healing ten lepers, Jesus was surprised that only one came back to give thanks. Like them, few of us come back to Him to give thanks out of many good things He has done. It is usually easier to focus on what’s not going right than 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 and anger 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.

September 4, 2024

Any gains at the end? (R)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 8:35-37 "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" - NIV

In all we do, gains are expected materially, socially, financially, spiritually or otherwise. No one does anything for nothing. Investments are made with returns in mind. This encourages sacrifice, risks and patience. It was the same principle Jesus taught as He challenged His disciples to put their lives on the line for His sake. He said, ‘whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.’

Some risks are not certain to yield good results. Gaining all the glory of this world, and paying no attention the eternal state of your soul is a big gamble. It’s an eternal lose! Giving ones life to Christ and committing to serve Him, is a sure deal in the kingdom of God and for eternity. There will be a reward. As we count the cost of where our faith and hope is for now and more so into eternity, Jesus is the solid rock we can rely on.

The disciples asked Jesus what they could expect since they had left everything to follow Him. Jesus took this as a valid concern and told them they would recieve a hundred fold what they forsook, eternal life together with persecutions. Friends, investing your life and resources in God and His kingdom is no gamble. In Him, you can put all your eggs in the same basket, and be sure they are safe. It is worthwhile.

Matthew 19:27-29 "Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

The blessed assurance!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 28:20 "… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus was physically leaving earth. He had empowered and commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations in the ends of the earth.There were fears in the disciples how they would do it. He now assures them of His continued presence upto the end of this present age.

We learn from His words that there will be an end to present age. There is work to be done, bringing people to God. There are enemy forces to be resisted. But all these are covered by the presence of the One Who commissioned us to His service. His presence means protection, provision of all needs in His service and guidance. With Him, we can progress despite the odds.

The promise of His presence covers us to date. He is surely present to make us safe and secure, enable us serve His purposes, meet our needs, allay all our fears and guide us in the path of life. This is the blessed assurance we can hold on to in the journey of life, through mountain and valleys. He who promised is faithful. He will do it. Walk with your head high. Praise God!

Hebrews 13:5-6 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

The power of leadership! (11/1/2023)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

2 Chronicles 33:9-10 "But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention."

Manasseh was king. Using his influence, he led the people astray into much evil against God. They even superseded the heathen nations around them who didn’t know God. So rebellious were they under Manasseh’s kingship that warnings from God were despised. It took God’s severe punishment for Manasseh to later repent and turn to God.

2 Chronicles 34:33 "Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors."

Josiah was king Manasseh’s son. He became king at a tender age of eight. Using his position, he led the nation to God. He had all present in the nation of Israel under his jurisdiction influenced to serve God.

This comparison shows the power of leadership. It influences people under the leader’s control to do good or evil, towards God or away from Him for generations. This influence affects everything done under the person’s leadership. At your leadership level and period, in what direction are you influencing others? I pray you lead them to what is good, just, righteous and progressive.

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Alive for His purposes! (R)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Acts 17:25- 28 "And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live… 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" - NIV

Paul was in Athens. He noticed evidence of worship everywhere and sought to teach them true worship of God. He raised pertinent issues that all of us need to know about God and our existence: God gives all men life, breath and all else. To be alive is because of God. God determines and sets time and exact places each of us lives. In God we live, move and have our being. This leaves us with NOTHING we can claim to be our own without God.

Paul adds the purpose God did all these, that men would seek, reach out and find Him. The reason we have life, move and have our being, is to worship God. We don’t exist for ourselves. God made us for His purposes. To live for ones pleasures, desires, or will apart from God, is to completely miss the point of living, whatever you do or gain.

We can then consider ourselves successful in life, if we seek God, reach out for and find Him. A rich relationship and intimate knowledge and worship of God is key to our fulfillment in life. That gives purpose to life. Anything else is a gamble. I pray you live life on purpose in God in all your endeavours. Seek, reach out, and find God.

John 5:30 "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Children like their Father!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." - NIV

Jesus in a long sermon on the mountain, compared what people had been taught under the law and what He came to do. In the law, it was tit for tat. Eye for eye,tooth for tooth. If one was your enemy, you hated them. But Jesus changed the narrative by teaching that you love your enemies and pray for those who mistreat you. This is the character of God Who does good to all, including those who hate Him.

By doing good in return for evil, we truly become children of the God we claim to belong. This is no easy task in our human understanding and abilities. The human natural tendency is to pay back evil for evil. If God was to do that, no wicked person would get His blessings. We can only truly do good for evil by God’s help.

The Holy Spirit was given to help us in our weaknesses, one of which is inability to do good in the face of evil done to us. Imagine blessing those who curse and hate you, praying for those who persecute and want to harm you! It takes God. Let’s corporate with the Holy Spirit to enable us be children like our Father. In so doing, we show that we are His children and bring Him much glory.

Romans 12:19-21 "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Shalom children of God

Daily Devotionals

Known before we existed! (20/1/2023)

The heart that pleases God (19/1/2023)

When God shatters man’s wisdom! (18/1/2023)

God’s word: Absolute and final!(16/1/2023)

Bless the Lord oh my soul! (R) (15/1/2023)

Any gains at the end? (R)

The blessed assurance!

The power of leadership! (11/1/2023)

Alive for His purposes! (R)

Children like their Father!

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