POINTS: 1. The Presence of God with His Enemy 2. My Glory shall not be Given to Anyone. 3. Funds Raising in the Church.

The Bible Calendar for 2nd August 2024.

1 Samuel   6 & 7

Isaiah    48

2 Corinthians  9

POINTS:

1. The Presence of God with His Enemy

2. My Glory shall not be Given to Anyone.

3. Funds Raising in the Church.

1. THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITH HIS ENEMY

God is the owner of every land, and no one can cage Him, and He always makes His enemies to be uncomfortable in His presence. The five cities of Philistine experienced the heavy hand of God on their people and their gods as He inflicted them with diseases and many people died for taking the Ark of God to their land. Surprisingly, the people consulted their seers, and they asked them to return the Ark with sacrifice, but the major thing was that they said they should give glory to the God of Israel. That’s how the terrible state of the enemies of God is in His presence; though they give glory to the Most High, they are uncomfortable in his presence. Many who turned themselves to be the enemies of God cannot prosper; they will only be looking for the falling of the Christians, but if God be for us, who can be against us? The enemies of the Israelites thought they had captured the God of Israel; they didn’t know that their Redeemer was powerful and could fight without the help of anyone. He is ready to deliver His heritage; He can use any method to show His power, and He will fight our battles without delay. where our power ends is the beginning of His ability. The Israelites did not know how God fought to deliver the Ark from the Philistines, so you don’t need to know how He will deliver you and all that are yours from the trouble and how He delivered you from the plans of the enemies. You may not know that God is fighting for you, and you may keep on complaining and being downcast but your enemies know what they are going through and the heavy hand of God is on them, only what you need is not to quit your prayers because all your enemies shall be troubled in the presence of God.

2. MY GLORY SHALL NOT BE GIVEN TO ANYONE

God does not joke with His glory, and He is jealous when His glory is given to man or other gods; the deliverance of Judah is by his own volition, not by the good works of the people or by the intermediary of any idol. Such is our salvation, it is not by our work but by His love towards the human race. God said He has been showing new things to the people even though He did not stop telling them of the old things; he foretold that they may know that He is in their midst, yet people still went astray, which landed them in captivity. And till today, He speaks with His people and shows us things to come and how to go about them, and those that follow Him shall never regret them, all because He cannot give His glory to anyone. He says for His own sake, He will defer His anger that His praise may be given back to Him, and that is the mercy that we received from Him, for He did not want His name to be polluted. He will continue to be with us, provided we embrace His teaching and extend His good work to the people in the world so that His glory may fill all the earth.

3. FUNDS RAISING IN THE CHURCH

 We often think that fundraising in the church is an innovation, but it has been in settings of religion. Because God will not allow the use of anything brought to Him by the unbelievers because He is a rich God, and He blesses His people at all times. Paul spoke to the Corinthians churches to raise funds for the work of God in the Headquarters, and he ordered all the churches he founded to be part of that gospel project. And asked them to do according to their capacity and with the hope of receiving back from God like one who sows seeds. But money contributions or fundraising has reduced the number of church members today, which means people do not see fundraising in the church as a way of blessing but as exploitation; but Paul said God wants a cheerful giver. Even in the wilderness, God told Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites those who were willing to give. Somebody said fundraising, contributions, Levy will continue in the church as much as they are living organisms, and giving cannot be equal with the people in the church, but only to participate according to your capacity without grudge,e, and you will be blessed. The funds that Paul was asking about were to be sent to Jerusalem, their Headquarters, because the persecution had rendered many people homeless, and many had been disowned by their families because of their conversion to Christ. But the church in the gentile nations had not much problem with this, and that was why  Paul and his teams took it upon themselves to raise funds to alleviate the burdens of the Jewish Christians. Till today, the church runs itself, and the building, maintenance, and equipment are provided by the church members of the church. If there is any church that is not contributing money, it will be that some people sponsor such church, but it is not the best because the blessings may not circulate to the church members but within the circle of the givers. The money contributed to the church attracts double gains, which are the worldly and heavenly gains. Paul said that the Lord would multiply your seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness, that is, all that you have done to the church and her ministers will be paid back with bountiful blessings, and your labor of love shall not lost in Jesus’ name.

Pastor M. O. Shodipe

For questions: 08056044717