Grace and Glory ministries

September 4, 2024

Handling exhaustion and burnout (i) It can happen to you (7/6/2022)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

1 Kings 19:3-4 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” - NIV

Prophet Elijah was one distinguished by great miracles and exceptional relationship with God. He had shut up the heavens without rain in the land for three years and opened it up again by the word of the Lord. He rid the land of false prophets and idolatry, and restored worship to God in a dramatic encounter when he called fire down from heaven. Jezebel, the queen and chief sorcerer threatened to kill him and he fled for his life.

In the scripture above, we see him tired, exhausted from the journey and in fear. He prays to die. All of a sudden, the great national achievements registered meant nothing. His strong relationship with God over the years seemed not to help. He saw his life as useless, likening it to that of his ancestors. He wanted to die. He prayed for death. How could this be for such an exceptional calibre of a man of God?

Such is the effect of burn out and exhaustion in life. In our fast paced, evil and stressful world, full of so much that drains our lives, and sometimes sends us to the brink of despair, the feelings of hopelessness, meaningless living fills our minds. The enemy, whose mission is to steal, kill and destroy will be quick to suggest strategies that further take life away from us. God is equally concerned about our state of wellbeing as we shall learn later. Our lives shouldn’t end in despair. There is hope in God as we too take some deliberate actions!

Psalm 27:13-14 "[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

September 4, 2024

When personal interests override good!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Mark 15:9-13 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted." - NIV

The debate was about which prisoner to release as was the custom. Barabas was a notorious prisoner who led an uprising. Jesus was the opposite. He committed no crime. But the priests, elders and teachers of the law who should have been Jesus’ key defenders because He was righteous, preferred that a criminal be released to them. They overlooked the law they claimed to stand for, to protect self interests which Jesus stood against. Barabas deserved to die. But Jesus Who didn’t deserve was crucified.

It is disturbing how common this is in our day. So many who hold power and authority, custodians of the law, and holders of positions of responsibility they could use to promote truth, justice and righteousness instead use it to defraud, oppress and discriminate so as to promote self interests. This happens across all strata of leadership in society. The positions we hold are a stewardship from God for the common good.

Let’s all examine ourselves as we execute our entrusted duties and responsibilities. Are we driven by a commitment to serve for the good of others or to protect hidden self interests? Do we stir others towards a genuine cause or clandestinely building our own empires? So many are vocal and strife for leadership with evil intentions. Ultimately, we shall be accountable to God Who searches the motives of mens hearts.

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Esther 10:3 "Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews."

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

Ponder over these things! (5/6/2022)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 2:19, 51 “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart…Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” – NIV

Alot had happened and was spoken surrounding baby Jesus. The angel had told Mary and Joseph about the His conception and birth. When He was born, God breaks the news to the shepherds taking care of sheep in the night through a large multitude of angels. At the temple while dedicating the child to God, the old man Simeon spoke very prophetically about Him. Prophet Anna too spoke out. The parents saw the young boy reason very maturely at the temple.

In all these situations, the Bible says Mary treasured up these things and pondered over them in her heart. She couldn’t humanly comprehend them all, and the best was to treasure them in her heart. There are things that God, in His wisdom and knowledge, does or allows in our lives. They are part of His bigger plan for us. As they unfold, we may not yet understand what is happening and what the outcome may be. As Mary did, it is best to be still and keep them in your heart as you watch what God is doing.

As this happens, remember whatever promises and prophecies God made to you. Allow God manifest them as He fulfills what He purposed for you. They may appear strange and unique, out of the norm as it happened to Moses in the burning bush, the angel to Samson’s parents, to the apostles in the miraculous fish catch or some divine encounter several people experienced. Don’t be quick to reject what is uncommon and appearing strange unless you clearly discern it is demonic. It is well. God is in charge. He will bring it to pass for His glory.

Genesis 24:21 “Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.”

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

More valuable than you can imagine! (R) (4/6/2022)

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – NIV

Jesus spent time to encourage His disciples on how important they are to God. He uses two examples to drive the point home. The sparrow is a little almost insignificant bird. Two of these birds cost almost nothing, but God cares about them so much that when one dies and falls down in the thick forests, God takes note! None of us ever bothers to know how many hairs we have in our heads, but God cares enough to not only know their number, but also takes note when one of them falls down.

We all need this encouragement one time or another in life as we go through situations that attempt to make us feel less than who we really are. Despite the life upheavals, God wants us to know we are so precious to Him. If He can care for things that don’t bother us, little things in His creation, how much more His most treasured creation, man? He who did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for us, how can He fail to supply our need (Romans 8:32)? If He did whatever it could take to save us, can He abandon us? Never!

He even committed Himself to never leave nor forsake us(Heb 13:5). Cheer up child of God. You are more valuable than you can imagine. You need to have this awareness and consciously live with it. Walk with your head up, in confidence. He loves and cares for you more than you. We are His treasured possession. Don’t allow your environmental circumstances define you. They may make you feel inferior and unworthy. Take your Father’s report. You are valuable and precious! You are His own!

Psalms 100:3 “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Shalom children of God.

September 4, 2024

The pain of betrayal by close friends!

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 55:12-14 "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me,  I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about  among the worshipers." - NIV

David raised a very disturbing matter in human relationships. This is about betrayal that arises from hypocrisy of those we think are close friends, confidants, companions, fellow worshippers and people we trust. He further says it is easier to know your enemy is fighting you. That doesn’t surprise because you already know it and will gladly endure. But it surprises and hurts for the close one you worship with, eat with, enjoy ‘sweet’ fellowship with, and trust – to turn against you.

One reason this happens is when people harbour evil intentions and do not walk in the light. When we have honest attitudes towards others and if we mean well, we will not keep evil intentions against them. We will not say one thing and do another. We will not smile and at the same time planning to harm. We will love them as ourselves and do to them what we wish done to us. We will genuinely seek to help others and not stab their backs. This is God’s principle.

Stories abound of those cheated, abused, harmed and betrayed by those they trusted. This shouldn’t be so, especially among those called by God’s name. This is why we are told to do whatever we do to God and others from the heart. Anything short of this is hypocrisy. May God help us not be agents of the devil in betraying those who have sought solace under our care! May we be like God Who never betrays those Who come to Him.

Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

1 John 1:6-7 "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Shalom children of God.

June 17, 2022

What kind of man is this!?

By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 5:8-11 “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” NIV

Jesus borrowed Peter’s boat and used it to preach. After that, He told Peter to launch out his fishing net for a catch. This was not normal as fishing was best done at night. The experienced fisherman, Peter, informed Jesus that they tried the whole night but failed. How much more during day. But at Jesus’ word, he accepted and caught fish he never had before. The boat was sinking and His partners had to come to his help. This shocked them beyond imagination. Who is this man?

Peter knew this was no ordinary man he was encountering. He wanted Him to go away. But Jesus wanted him for His mission of fishing men through the gospel. At this miracle and call, they left their bountiful catch to follow Jesus. Paul too met Jesus in His glory and right away knew this wasn’t ordinary. He abandoned all his treasures to follow Him. While those who never had such experiences with God will take them to be foolish, to those who meet Him, it’s a treasure beyond measure.

With or without any extraordinary experience with God, let it settle in your heart that He is a great God beyond imagination. When He chooses to reveal a little bit of Who He is, His majesty and splendour, all our doubts, pride and rebellion melt away in an instant. On speaking to the storm and calming the sea, the disciples were shocked and asked, ‘what kind of man is this.'(Mark 4:41). I pray He gives you such an experience with Himself. Then all the glory and treasures of this life become nothing!

Philippians 3:7-8 “But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ’s sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere refuse, so that I may gain Christ…”

Shalom children of God.

June 15, 2021

Cisterns without water!

Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me– the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” – NLT

From the time of the fall, man sought independence from God. Satan’s strategy remains to alleniate humanity from his Creator, and in so doing, fall prey to the devil’s tricks and manipulations as alternatives because we can’t be independent. Man was created to depend on God. When we are cut off from Him, we die. Pride drives towards independence so that credit is not shared or given to another.

Israel went into the same deception. They ignored God, their Creator, protector, sustainer, guide and life giver and sought to devise their own means of survival, protection and independent living. They wanted to sustain life without God. That was like building cracked cisterns which could not hold water. It was wasted useless efforts. God called these two evils His people committed against Him; abandoning God and building what couldn’t sustain them.

To date, this remains man’s problem. People can do everything else to find solutions to their problems, except turn to God. To many, God is the last resort or never at all. We end up finding solutions that don’t last for the problems we face. Our cisterns(efforts) are broken, but we insist on them even if they don’t help. The world problems would easily find answers if God retained His place in mens hearts, policy and board rooms, legislative assemblies, council sessions. But as it is, men will still dig their cisterns which can’t hold water. If only we could return to the Almighty, it would be much easier!

2 Kings 17:15 “They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.””

Shalom children of God.

June 14, 2021June 14, 2021

Hope in an unfailing God (R)

Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Psalm 27:13 “[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” – KJV

Life’s journey is not straight. One time you are at the mountain top and everything is alright. Another time you are at the valley and things seem to be falling apart. One time there are friends all around. And in another no one seems to care. You seem to be all alone. This fluctuations go beyond the individual to families, communities and nations.

God operates in seasons and times. That’s how things are. David acknowledged that if he had not believed in hope for better times ahead, he would have given up on living, given what he was going through. This happens to us many times when the storms of life beat, situations so tough and stressful come our way, and thoughts of quiting endeavours or even dying, cross one’s mind. Thank God, these situations are not the end of the story, however dire they may be. In God, blossoming life can be rebuilt out of the rubble and ashes.

It’s so encouraging that amidst all the ups and downs and uncertainities of life, God, in Whom we trust and hope, doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). He is God in the good and bad times. He remains a good and faithful God in the mountain top and in the dark lonely valleys. Our faith and hope should rest in Him. Men in their abilities may fail. Our businesses, investments, treasures and all we may rely on can fail. But God doesn’t.
And this hope in God doesn’t disappoint. It will be well at the end. There is hope for a better tomorrow, however bad today is. Do not quit your endeavors. Hold on to faith in an unchanging, faithful God. There is light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Psalms 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Romans 8:25 “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Cheer up children of God

January 16, 2020June 14, 2021

Where is your Foundation?

Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who build his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – NIV

Two scenarios, concerning every human being, are painted by the Lord Jesus as He concluded a long sermon on the mountain. Its about where we place our trust in life. Both categories of people heard the words of Jesus just as we do every now and then. To both, the same conditions befell; the rain came, streams arose, winds blew and beat against the houses. These represent the challenges of life which face all of us. The difference came whether they put the words into practice or not. Therein was wisdom and foolishness contrasted. And that is what exposed the real foundations, in our case, where people’s faith really is in life’s testing moments, the evil day.

Jesus is the rock of our salvation. All else we trust in, apart from Him, is like building a house on sand; shaky unstable foundation. Those who trust in Him are established on firm ground. And sure enough, those forces will come and one can’t pretend any more. Jesus said they will come upon everyone on the earth (Luke 21:35-36). All hear these words. Some take it seriously and put into practice. Some ignore and brush it off as ‘that usual outdated boring stuff.’

Friend, dont be caught offside when the moment of truth comes, and the foundations are shaken. Many claim to believe and trust In God. The house founded on sand may appear nice and fancy until the storms strike. In that day, the wisdom or foolishness in our faith and true anchor of our lives, will be exposed. The Spirit has spoken that there will be tough times, a serious shaking in all aspects of life this year and the years to come. Only those who are anchored solidly on the Rock Jesus, will stand. Establish yourself in Him early enough.

“The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true… ” Rev 23:6.

Psalms 125:1-2 “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

Shalom children of God.

December 24, 2019

He Came to Set Captives Free

He Came to Set Captives Free (24/12/2019)

By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” – KJV

As Jesus began His public ministry, He read from the book of prophet Isaiah. The statement He read was His mission on earth, the reason He came. He came to set prisoners of sin free, heal the wounded and broken hearted, preach good news of God’s salvation, deliver captives, and declare a perpetual year of jubilee. The year of jubilee was after every 50years. Then, slaves would be freed, debts cancelled and property restored(Leviticus 25:10). In His earthly ministry, He did this by the Holy Spirit Who annointed Him for service. He still does it today.

From the time of man’s fall in the garden of Eden, men never fully enjoyed what God originally intended for them. Sin distorted God’s order. To date, we see and experience this distortion. God’s people are lost from God, bound, wounded, oppressed, enslaved and don’t enjoy the liberty God intended for them. Many are hopeless and without a sense of purpose and direction. All the conditions Jesus came to address are effects of the fall being perpetuated by the devil.

The great news we proclaim is that Jesus came to free all those the devil had bound. He defeated the devil, the causer of sin who held men captive. Each of us in Christ, can now enjoy the liberty and victory over Satan and his sinful schemes. Satan is forever defeated. Anyone still in his traps can go free by coming to Christ Jesus Who came to set the captives free. He longs to see you free enjoying His peace and joy. Glory be to God our Redeemer!

1Jo 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Shalom children of God. Merry Christmas

Daily Devotionals

Handling exhaustion and burnout (i) It can happen to you (7/6/2022)

When personal interests override good!

Ponder over these things! (5/6/2022)

More valuable than you can imagine! (R) (4/6/2022)

The pain of betrayal by close friends!

What kind of man is this!?

Cisterns without water!

Hope in an unfailing God (R)

Where is your Foundation?

He Came to Set Captives Free

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