by Peters Agamugoro | Apr 16, 2020 | Devotional
✝📕DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
Date: 2020-04-16
✝🔎TOPIC: THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE
📺 WATCH TODAY’S DEVOTION HERE
✝📖TEXT: MARK 16:9-18(NKJV)
- Now when [He] rose early on the first [day] of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
- She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.
- And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
- After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.
- And they went and told [it] to the rest, [but] they did not believe them either.
- Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
- And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
- “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
- “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
✝📃STUDY
The writers of the four gospels recorded how Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. She was formerly possessed and afflicted by seven demons but her encounter with Jesus changed her history: She became His follower and the first evangelist to proclaim His resurrection. Jesus can always rewrite our history for good when we encounter Him. The disciples did not believe the news about Jesus’ resurrection until when He appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief.Unbelief is doubt, the opposite of faith;its consequences are great such as external condemnation(v.16). James asserts that anyone who doubts is unstable in his faith and cannot get anything from God. Secondly some Israelites did not enter the Promise Land because of unbelief (Heb. 3:19). We need grace to overcome this cankerworm in our journey with God.
Can you see the manifestations of believing from verses 17-18?Those that believe will cast out demons, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, lay hands on the sick and they will recover and if they drink deadly poison, shall not be hurt. Indeed the power of belief is immeasurable. Have you experienced any of the signs in your Christian life? Note, these signs shall follow them that believe, so be a believer and not an unbeliever.
✝🙏 PRAYER: Lord, help my unbelief.
by Peters Agamugoro | Apr 15, 2020 | Devotional
✝📕DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
Date: 2020-04-15
✝🔎TOPIC: ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS
📺 WATCH TODAY’S DEVOTION VIA YOUTUBE HERE
✝📖TEXT: LUKE 24:13-25(NKJV)
- Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
- And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
- So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
- But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
- And He said to them, “What kind of conversation [is] this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
- Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
- And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
- “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
- “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
- “Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
- “When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
- “And certain of those [who were] with us went to the tomb and found [it] just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
- Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
✝📃STUDY
In today’s passage, Jesus appears to two of His disciples going to Emmaus, one of them was Cleopas. These men apparently did not recognise Him for certain reasons. Consider Jesus statement to them “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken”(v.25).As followers of Jesus, we are expected to understand the scriptures and believe and act on them. They are not ordinary words; they are life (Deut. 32:47). Every Christian needs this understanding so that he can flow with the perfect will of God.
It was at the table when they reclined to eat with Him and He prayed that their eyes were opened (vs. 30-31). They recognised Him and He disappeared from them leaving them convinced that He is alive. The impact of their encounter with Jesus moved them to proclaim the good news about His Resurrection. Have you ever encountered Jesus in your life? What impact did this encounter create in you? This encounter is personal and necessary for our new life in Christ, empowerment, growth and relevance in the Kingdom of God.
✝🙏 PRAYER: I need a touch from the Master O! Lord.
by Peters Agamugoro | Apr 14, 2020 | News
We wish to bring to your notice the postponement of the Second Session of the Thirteenth Synod of the Diocese of Warri, scheduled to hold at St John’s Anglican Church, Okpara-Inland from Saturday, May 2 to Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
This is due to the current corona virus pandemic that has made the government to place restrictions on movements of persons. A new date will be communicated to you in due course.
+Christian, Warri.
NB Help circulate this information, please.
by Peters Agamugoro | Apr 14, 2020 | News
Beloved in Christ, Easter greetings to you all in Jesus Christ’s name.
Our Governor has extended the stay-at-home order of Delta State by two weeks, beginning from tomorrow Wednesday, April 15.
In order that we do not go to sleep and give room for the enemy to sow weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:25), we have drawn a roster to motivate us to continue to pray as a Diocese throughout the two weeks lockdown.
The prayer time is from 12noon to 6pm daily, excluding Sundays when we’re expected to observe our family Sunday worship.
Archdeacons/Vicars/Chaplains of Chapels are to organize their members in their various homes to observe the prayer time assigned to them.
Prayer points are to be raised as the Holy Spirit directs.
Endeavour to share this information as you receive it.
May the Lord hear our prayer and deliver us from the dangers that lurk around us in Jesus Christ’s name.
The Lord be with you! +
by Peters Agamugoro | Nov 22, 2019 | Events
The Diocese of Warri Women’s Organisations under the leadership of our mother in Israel, Mrs Patience Okpako Ide shall be having tomorrow Saturday 23rd November, 2019 at the All Saint Chapel, Abraka at 10am
by Peters Agamugoro | Mar 11, 2019 | Devotional
THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: MONDAY 11TH MARCH, 2019
TOPIC: COSTLY ASSUMPTIONS
TEXT: JOB 4:1-21
- Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
- “ If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
- Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
- Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;
- But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled.
- Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7.“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?
- Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same.
- By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
- The roaring of the lion, The voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
- The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12.“Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it.
- In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,
- Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake.
- Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up.
- It stood still, But I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; There was silence; Then I heard a voice saying:
17.‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
- If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
- How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before a moth?
- They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; They perish forever, with no one regarding.
- Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.’
MESSAGE:
Jobs three friends visited him to sympathize with and comfort him over the trouble that came upon him. When they saw his situation, they mourned with him and remained speechless for seven days and seven nights. Finally, Eliphaz, one of them, broke the silence and made certain assumptions: the innocent and upright do not have trouble (v.7); they that sow evil reap it (v.8); mortals cannot be innocent before God their maker (v.12).
In some cases of course, his assumptions may be true but not in Jobs case. To Eliphaz, Jobs suffering was as a result of his sins but the testimony of his life in verses 3-7 and Chapter 1:1 as a blameless man contradicts his assumptions.
Many a time, when brethren suffer as a result of sickness, horrible afflictions, etc., we quickly attribute such to sin. Though sin has a devastating effect, it is not responsible for every negative condition, as in the case of Job.
Let us therefore show brotherly affection to our troubled ones by praying for Gods mercy and intervention in their situations. Sometimes, costly assumptions are more painful than the trouble itself.
PRAYER:
Father, use me always to bring succour to troubled hearts.
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by Peters Agamugoro | Jan 12, 2019 | Events, News
The Ibru International Ecumenical Retreat Agbarha – Otor, Delta State was the venue for the annual retreat of the Primate of All Nigeria, Most Rev’d Nicholas D. Okoh, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Revd Ali Buba Lamido, all the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) from Monday 7th to Friday 11th of January, 2019.
The annual retreat of the bishops is to kick start start the year with special reflection and prayers.
The theme of this year’s retreat is The Integrity of the Church Today and Tomorrow.
The bishops devoted time to be alone with God for refreshment in God’s presence, for renewed vision and direction for leading the church of God in the year.
The retreat among other things featured quality sermons delivered during the Holy Communion Services and the Mattins, Bible studies and inspiring lectures delivered by very learned and experienced bishops.
The bishops were called to re-examine themselves and further commit themselves to God and to the duties for which God has called them.
In the opening sermon on Tuesday, the bishop of Ughelli Diocese – Rt. Rev. Dr. Cyril Odutemu on behalf of Bendel Province commended the Church for maintaining her integrity in her stand against the Revisionist agenda and same sex marriage. He challenged the bishops to rise up to defend and uphold their integrity and that of the Church in the midst of a nation that is bedeviled with many vices.
In tandem with this, the Archbishop of Kwara Province, the Most Rev. Dr. Olusegun Adeyemi, called on the participants to shun a life of hypocrisy and imbibe integrity because breaking the laws of God could provoke His anger which is very destructive. It is necessary for all Christians, Priests and bishops to exhibit good character which is necessary for their spiritual development and manifestation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
The Primate of All Nigeria charged the bishops to prove themselves men of integrity in their words and conduct both privately and publicly.
Prayers were said for the nation, particularly for peace in troubled areas and for a peaceful electoral process.
The meeting of the Board of Governors of the Trinity Foundation, under the trusteeship of which is the Ibru Centre also held at the time and was attended by the Director General, Ambassador Dr Dele Cole, Patriarch of Ibru family, Dr Goodie Ibru, the Archbishops and officials of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
The Programme ended with Episcopal Synod in which some new bishops were elected to join in the shepherd ship of the Church of God.
by Peters Agamugoro | Dec 17, 2018 | Anglican Grammar School, Events
By the grace of God the Christmas Carol service of the Anglican grammar school, Okpara – Waterside. Delta State of Nigeria was held successfully on Thursday 13th of December, 2018 at 4pm with Revd Sam. Ewhoforama – Principal/Chaplain ministering together with the Glorious Diamond Choir of All Souls Chapel, etc.
Special present to an out going student teacher during inaugural Anglican grammar school, Okpara – Waterside staff welfare end of year party.
Drama on the Nativity by students
![Bishop of Warri Diocese Hosts Widows, Empowers Them]()
by Peters Agamugoro | Nov 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
His lordship, the Rt Revd Christian Esezi Ide, today held a get together with all the widows in the Diocese at The Agbon Central Archdeaconry headquarters, St John’s Anglican Church, Okpara Inland
by Peters Agamugoro | Jun 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE, 2018
TOPIC : WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING WITH?
TEXT: I KINGS 6:14-38
- So Solomon built the temple and finished it.
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And he built the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards; from the floor of the temple to the ceiling he paneled the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the temple with planks of cypress.
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Then he built the twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling, with cedar boards; he built it inside as the inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place.
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And in front of it the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.
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The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All was cedar; there was no stone to be seen.
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And he prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple, to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there.
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The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.
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So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold. He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.
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The whole temple he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the temple; also he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by the inner sanctuary.
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Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
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One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.
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And the other cherub was ten cubits; both cherubim were of the same size and shape.
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The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the other cherub.
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Then he set the cherubim inside the inner room; and they stretched out the wings of the cherubim so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. And their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.
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Also he overlaid the cherubim with gold.
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Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
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And the floor of the temple he overlaid with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries.
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For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood; the lintel and doorposts were one-fifth of the wall.
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The two doors were of olive wood; and he carved on them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.
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So for the door of the sanctuary he also made doorposts of olive wood, one-fourth of the wall.
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And the two doors were of cypress wood; two panels comprised one folding door, and two panels comprised the other folding door.
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Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them, and overlaid them with gold applied evenly on the carved work.
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And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.
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In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv.
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And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.
MESSAGE
Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 3:12-15 warns and encourages us to use quality materials to build for God because our work will be tested by fire. King Solomon as shown in our reading today, built with cedar, cypress tree, olive wood and gold. A closer study of the passage reveals that the quantity of the gold used was more than all other materials. He even went ahead to overlay the wooden materials with gold. Verses 20 – 22 further emphasise this (Read these verses again).
Let us ask ourselves if we have been so generous with our ‘gold’ today in the work of building for our God. It is quite unfortunate that many of us give the type of offering that is unacceptable to men to God. Malachi warns against this in Malachi1:6-8. Let us learn big lessons from Solomon today to honour God with the best He has given us and stop wasting it on parties, revelling and other frivolities.’ God’s works must not suffer in our hands again (Read Haggai 1:3ff further on this).
PRAYER: Dear Lord, Giver of all things, grant us grace to honour and serve You with the best of all You have given us.
