Agape Baptist Church Romi

1. It is often said "experience is the best teacher" but I say unto you, learn from others' experience so you don't be a victim.
2. It is often said "money can't buy happiness" but I say unto you, money can buy freedom and opportunities to find your own happiness.
3. It is often said "hard work pays off" but I say unto you, hard work with smart strategies pays off faster.
4. It is often said "patience is a virtue" but I say unto you, knowing when to act is more important than waiting.
5. It is often said "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" but I say unto you, what doesn’t kill you just leaves scars—learn from it and move on.
6. It is often said "you are what you eat" but I say unto you, you are what you think and do.
7. It is often said "time heals all wounds" but I say unto you, action and growth heal wounds faster than time alone.
8. It is often said "follow your passion" but I say unto you, passion without purpose is just a hobby.
9. It is often said "the early bird catches the worm" but I say unto you, the strategic bird catches more than just a worm.
10. It is often said "love conquers all" but I say unto you, understanding and communication conquer more.
11. It is often said "money can't buy class" but I say unto you, class is built through actions, not wealth.
12. It is often said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" but I say unto you, anyone can learn if they're willing to evolve.
13. It is often said "actions speak louder than words" but I say unto you, *right* actions speak louder than words.
14. It is often said "good things come to those who wait" but I say unto you, good things come to those who work and wait smartly.
15. It is often said "love at first sight" but I say unto you, love grows through understanding, not just sight.
16. It is often said "you only live once" but I say unto you, you live every day—make each one count.
17. It is often said "knowledge is power" but I say unto you, applied knowledge is power.
18. It is often said "it's not what you know, but who you know" but I say unto you, it’s both what you know and who you know.
19. It is often said "ignorance is bliss" but I say unto you, ignorance leads to missed opportunities.
20. It is often said "dream big" but I say unto you, dream smart and work hard.

Encouragement:
Don't just follow outdated sayings—*challenge the norms* and adapt them to the modern world. Success comes not from blindly accepting old wisdom but from *applying it intelligently* and *learning from others' experiences*. *Take action, think differently*, and create your own path to greatness.

*DAILY ENCOUNTER WITH GOD (NBC)*

*WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025*

*TO OBEY IS BETER THAN SACRIFICE*

*BH 266: Standing on the Promises*

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my king,
Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and
fear assail,
By the living word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

3. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternaly by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s Sword, Standing on the promises of God.

4. Standing on the promises I cannot fail,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Saviour as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

*Memory verse:* 'But Samuel replied: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" 1 Samuel 15:22, NIV

*Text: 1 Samuel 15: 20-26*

[20] “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.

[21] The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

[22] But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

[23] For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

[24] Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.

[25] Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

[26] But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”
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Chuck Swindoll tells about his encounter with General Charles M. Duke, a former astronaut 'who went on the Apollo 16 mission to the moon.

I asked, "Once you were there, weren't you free to make your own decisions and carry out your own experiments?" He smiled and said, “sure, if didn't want to return to earth!"

He went on to describe the intricate plan, the precise instructions, the essential discipline, and the instant obedience that was needed right down to the second.

He explained how they landed with sixty seconds of fuel remaining. Chuck said, I got the distinct impression that a rebel doesn't fit inside a space suit."

God instructed Saul through prophet Samuel to destroy the Amalekites, but Saul decided to preserve the king and some animals.

God sent prophet Samuel back to king Saul to declare judgement upon him for his act of disobedience and rebellion.

Samuel told Saul that God value obedience over sacrifice. He then told Saul that because he rejected the instructions of God, God has also rejected him as king over His people.

By this act of disobedience, Saul lost God's support, presence and blessings. He also lost the kingdom of Israel.

Today, many Christians increase their offering and seed, while disobeying God's command. God will not overlook disobedience because we give unwarranted sacrifices.

God seeks those who will obey Him implicitly, not those who bring expensive sacrifices to atone for deliberate disobedience.

God demands complete, not partial, obedience to His Word. Believers must take God's words as sacred, and know that its rejection amounts to resisting God.

Always remember that God values your obedience more than your gifts. The best gift you can give to God is obeying all the words He has spoken to you. To obey God is better than any sacrifice you can give to Him.

*Perceive:* Obedience to God's words or message saves from eternal condemnation.

*Ponder:* How obedient are you to God's instructions?

*Practise:* Ask for a receptive heart to God's instructions and voice.

*Pray:* Father, give me an obedient spirit, help me to obey Your command.

*Prayer:* Lord, because I love Your law, I will have great peace, and nothing shall by any means cause me to stumble.

*Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches:* Oladapo Abel, Ogbomoso; Odunayo A. O., Ogbomoso; Eeboade T.E., Oyo; Adedayo Ojo, Koroduma; Stephen Pawpen, Danfulani; Nathan G.E., Omoku; Olatunde Festus I., Kosofe; Odetunmbi F. E., Niger; Sidi I. M., Kaduna; Oluwoye J. Olajire, Osun; Andrew Gumap, Kaduna; Hanhan Peter, Plateau; Innocent Gakan, Gongola; Idowu Oluwafemi O., Lagos; Farayola S. Babatunde, Osogbo; Miller Patricia T., Obinze.

*RBT: Matthew 18-20*

DAILY ENCOUNTER (NBC)

Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 30

THE PIERCING WORD OF GOD

Hymn - BH 132: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

RBT: Zechariah 11-14

Memory Verse: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrows; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12, NIV

Text: Hebrews 4:12-16

Hebrews 4:12-16 NIV
[12] For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

[13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

[14] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

[15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

[16] Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

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Charles Spurgeon wrote in his articles, "There is a style of majesty about God's word, and with this majesty a vividness never found elsewhere. No other writing has within it a heavenly life whereby it works miracles, and even imparts life to its readers. It is a living and incorruptible seed. It moves, it stirs itself, it lives, it communes with living men as a Living Word."

The passage today shows the Word of God as the power of God to change lives from the inside out. It has the power to make people live right for God. The Word of God is a spiritual instrument that is capable of bringing about lasting change. When one encounters the Word of God, it can expose private and hidden sins. The Word of God exposes the wrongs of the past that one may want to cover up. The activeness of the Word of God reveals the limitations of human strength. This makes it possible for sinners, to confess their sins and completely surrender their lives to the lordship of Christ.

What makes the Word of God inactive is living in sin. Indeed, sin renders the power in the Word of God ineffective in the life of a child of God, while the Word of God empowers the child of God to live a life that is void of sin. The Word of God has the power to liberate anyone who believes and accepts it by faith. That is why Satan and his agents will do all within their power to ensure that believers are not feeding on the Word of God so that such a person can remain in the bo***ge of sin and end in ruin and destruction. Spending time in God's Word leads to liberation from the bo***ge of sin and gives us the fortification needed to abound in every good work. Therefore, make a conscious effort to continuously feed on the Word of God.

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Perceive: Your attitude to the Word of God speaks volumes of your Christian life.

Ponder: Have you discovered the power in the Word of God?

Practice: Resolve today to allow the Word of God to become alive and active in your daily walk with God.

Pray: God, grant me access to the power in Your Word.

Lord, help me to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches: Adisa O. Ajayi, Ibadan; Shadrach O. Idoma, Okuku-Yala; Dede C. Ososamine, Port Harcourt; Mark Agboola, Ogbomoso; Oladipo Alfred, Ojo; Ojenike F. A., Salawa.

Prayer Shower
30. Lord, I glorify Your name for answered prayers (Psalm 105:3).