Agape Baptist Church Sapele

29/05/2019

29/05/2019

YOUTH ALIVE !

20/01/2019

YOU DO NOT KNOW THE WORK OF GOD WHO MAKES EVERYTHING.
ECCLESIASTES 11:5
It’s difficult when we’ve asked God for something and then we’re denied. It’s easy for us to fall into the trap of victim-like thinking: why is this happening to me? Why does everybody else seem like they’re doing great and I’m not? It can be hard when we don’t get what we want; however, it’s an opportunity for God to stretch our faith and help us to draw closer to Him. It’s spiritual maturity that will drive us above our hurt and disappointed feelings. It’s spiritual immaturity that will lead us to look at others and allow our hearts to be filled with jealousy and envy.
There’s a way out of the temptation of feeling sorry for ourselves. It’s through what questions we can ask when we don’t get what we WANT:
W – What are our motives? Good or Bad?
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:2-3)
If our motives are good, then we know that God will lead us in the right place even if we don’t get what we want when we want it. If our motives are for our own selfish ambition, then we want God to place roadblocks so that we can repent and refocus on what is good. (Psalm 5:8, 1 Samuel 16:7)

12/01/2019

AS EACH HAS RECEIVED A GIFT, USE IT TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF GOD’S VARIED GRACE.
1 PETER 4:10
Two of my five children serve as waiters for a local restaurant. Sometimes they are blessed with really great tips, and at other times they are treated poorly by discontented customers. As their mother, I’m just glad I’m not in the restaurant when they are mistreated because it would not go well. Yet they continue to serve with a good attitude and a smile, even when people are unfairly rude and belligerent. I admire their dedication to serve others as they would want to be served.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the power of God to serve others within our ministries, at our jobs, in our homes and community. Our service given to others (whether they deserve it or not) speaks to our love of God and His grace given to us. Sometimes those we serve are kind and grateful. Yet there are those who are unthankful and unwilling to show grace for what they are given. Even still, we serve not to them but to the Lord.
When our focus is on serving Christ, we will sense His Spirit’s peace and joy, even in the midst of dealing with difficult people. We are strengthened by the knowledge that God has eternal gifts in store for those who serve others. What must we do to serve more willingly this year?

03/08/2018

THAT NO “ROOT OF BITTERNESS” SPRINGS UP AND CAUSES TROUBLE, AND BY IT MANY BECOME DEFILED.
HEBREWS 12:15
Have you ever been around a bitter person? It doesn’t matter how optimistic or hopeful you are, these people can’t see anything but the negative. Yet if we aren’t careful, we can also become bitter people. The bitterness that we see in others didn’t grow overnight. Instead, the roots were growing within them long before we ever knew it existed.
Bitter roots are watered and fertilized by our unforgiving, discontented, and jealous hearts. The roots start off so small that they are easily overlooked. It could be fleeting thoughts such as “Why does she get to have a husband and I don’t?” or “Why does he get a promotion and not me?” or “Why should I forgive them when they aren’t even sorry?”
Bitterness begins within our hearts when we don’t immediately take our disappointments and hurts to God. It’s our responsibility to cast all of our cares on Christ because He cares about us (1 Peter 5:7). Many of us have done this, and we didn’t experience an immediate release, so we gave up. However, we are to continually call out to God and seek His peace when we are struggling with bitterness.
New: Get the daily devotional in your Facebook messenger. Just click the blue button to get started
The root of bitterness can be plucked out as we continue to call upon God and seek His healing. Through the truths of His word, we find our resolution in God’s plan and purpose for our lives. As His vision permeates our hearts, we turn away from looking at others and squarely focus on Him. If we wait too long to deal with the bitter roots, the fruit of it will cascade to every part of our lives and drive other people away from us.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I confess that I’ve entertained many bitter thoughts toward others because of my situation. Yet I want to be free, so I take everything to You in prayer for healing and restoration. In Jesus’ name, Amen..

11/07/2018

05/11/2017

Annual Thanksgiving service .

16/09/2017

MY REFUGE IS GOD.
PSALM 62:7
Have you ever had those days when nothing seems to go right? You fell short in your goals or you made a mistake that cost more time, money, and energy that you had available. And if that wasn’t hard enough, you have new problems in your personal life that remain unresolved. It’s in these times that you want to look up to heaven and ask God, “Really?”
It doesn’t seem fair for those who love and serve God to have hardship on top of hardship. We expect our lives to be smoother because we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. However, it sometimes seems to get worse before it gets better.
It’s tempting to run towards a friend or family member, to run towards some kind of stimulant looking for relief, or to simply just run away. It’s in those times we must run to the Lord seeking His refuge.
If we believe in the sovereignty of God, then we must also embrace the concept that He is in control of our lives at all times. Absolutely nothing escapes His loving gaze on our lives—that is, every disappointment from within and outside of us—regardless of how painful it is. He knows and cares for us.
When we seek out the Lord for refuge in the storms of life, we are expressing our confidence in His ability to protect and keep us even when we feel drenched in the pain. He is with us and will never leave us. While it may not feel good at the time, He uses every single raindrop of hurt for our greater good.
It’s our responsibility to turn to Him first. We can still call a friend or family member for encouragement, yet we must turn our attention to the One Who’s in control and can keep us during the rough patches of life.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, the storms of my life don’t seem to let up much. But I’m still holding onto the cross of Jesus Christ and trusting You to give me the strength, refuge, and courage I need to make it through. Amen.

27/07/2017

HE WHO IS TRUSTWORTHY IN SPIRIT KEEPS A THING COVERED.
PROVERBS 11:13
Back in the day when gossip magazines hit new stands—everyone wanted to be in the know of a famous person’s life when they aren’t in front of a camera. From there rose talk shows and now we have the internet to spread gossip, slander, and lies about anyone. Good people would run for office but they’ve changed their minds because they know their families will be dragged through the dirt of malicious talk and rumors without merit.
Gossip and slander are sneaky sins. We or other people can ask others to pray for someone after we’ve dished out their shameful business. Why would we do that? Mainly because of pride in our hearts—wanting to prove or feel better about ourselves.
Even if we aren’t the people speaking the gossip—if we are willing to sit and listen to it—we are actively engaged in the sin of gossiping. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can quickly discern what we need to know vs. what we don’t need to know. We don’t have to gossip—either speaking or listening. We can rise above it by becoming a trustworthy person who keeps a thing covered.
How can we learn to resist gossiping?
#1) Imagine the person being slandered in the place where the gossip is being shared…how would you speak of the situation if they were sitting right there looking at you?
#2) Imagine yourself in their shoes…how would you want someone to talk about your situation?
#3) Speak up to interrupt a gossip/slander taking place to share that you don’t want to know the details and you would rather everyone stop and pray right at that moment. Be sure to include a time of quiet reflection/confession of the sin of gossip.
If this becomes your practice, gossipers and slanderers will stop coming to you.
Can’t make me gossip…
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I don’t want to be a gossip or even a person who regularly listens to it. Grant me the discernment and timing to pull out of gossip. In Jesus, name.