THE AMAZING POWER OF CHRISTIAN UNITY

Psalm 133:1-3; John 13:34-35; 17:1-6, 17-23; Rom.15:5-7; 1Cor.1:10

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: That went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: For there the Lord commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore.” (Psalm 133:1–3)

 

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35)

 

“These things I command you, that ye love one another.” (John 15:17)

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:21–23)

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:5–7)

 

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Unity is the distinguishing characteristic of God’s people. It derives from our common relationship with God. Unity is powerful. You must have heard about the saying that “United we stand but divided we fall”. The book of Ecclesiastes says that a threefold cord is not easily broken (Eccl.4:12). How true! Jesus emphasised it as a requirement of true discipleship. He made it an object lesson in the night of the Last Supper. The early apostles preached and practised it in the early Church. We are expected to practise it in the contemporary Church. Unity will make us invincible and  unconquerable as a Church.

However we must not unite to do evil (Gen.11:4-6; Acts 23:12-13); neither should we unite to disobey God (Acts 5:1-3, 7-9).

A.    The Essence (Basis) Of Unity among Believers (Eph.4:1-6; 1Cor.12:12-27)

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6)

1.     We have a common relationship with God the Father

a.     As God’s Children (Rom.8:15-17)

b.     As God’s People (1Pet.2:9-10)

2.     We have a common union with Jesus Christ the Son (Col.3:11)
3.     We have a common fellowship with the Holy Spirit (1Cor.12:13)
4.     We have a common faith (Eph.4:4-6, 13)
5.     We are One body of Christ (Eph.4:4-6)

The church is one in essence – (i) founded on one gospel, (ii) united to one Lord, (iii) indwelt by one Spirit, (iv) constantly under internal and external threats. It needs to be in constant and continual fellowship. As a Church We are one! Our unity is woven around the Trinity - The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. But we have different functions, different gifts. All are not apostles. all are not pastors. But all can serve God and their service is acceptable to God when offered with love and a pure heart!

B.     The Expressions Of Unity Among Believers:
 

1.     Commitment to one another (1Sam.18:1-4; Ruth.1:16-17; 1Thes. 2:8)
2.     Commonage (Commonality/ Sharing)  of possessions (Luke 3:11; Acts 2:44-47; Rom.12:13; Gal.6:6; 2Tim.2:6)
3.     Comforting in troubles (Sharing burdens) (2Cor 2:7; Phil.4:14; Gal.6:2)
4.     Caring for and Supporting one another (Heb.10:24-25)
“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.” (1 Samuel 18:1–4)

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:16–17)

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:42–47)

The early church started practising sharing out of necessity, and we still have necessities today. Share what you have with one another in brotherly kindness.We are one family of God. We belong to God's family. All Selfishness is gone!We are one family. Real families are committed to each member. We need to commit ourselves to one another, support one another, share our blessings with one another. We must comfort one another in trouble, pray for one another, share our burdens. 

Unity and love must go hand in hand. There can be no unity without love (John 13:34-35; 15:17; Rom.12:10;  Heb.10:24; 1Pet.3:8). Love is in our DNA (Rom.5:5). It is a commandment of the Lord. It is like precious ointment.

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5)

“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:13–17)

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35)

C.     Engaging In (or Practice of) Christian Unity

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:” (1 Peter 3:8)

 

“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17–18)

1.     We Practice unity in Harmonious Living (Ps.133:1-3). We must live in harmony with one another. You are no longer s stranger to me. When you come to my house take it as your own. Eat what is offered. Give a helping hand when needed.

2.     We Practice unity in Purpose as a community (Phil.1:27; Judges 20:11; Neh.4:6; Mat.22:37-40; 28:18-20).

What is our purpose as a Church? We want to fulfil the Great Commandment (Mat.22:37-40) and carry out the Great Commission (Mat.28:18-20). This is our common purpose. We want more people to join our Church community. When new people join us we show them the exceptional love of God.

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:35–40); see also Deut.6:4-5; lev.19:18. You can tell that this is the summary of the entire Ten Commandments.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18–20). 

This is our primary purpose as  a Church, and we will accomplish it as one people.

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6). It took only 52 days to finish the walls of Jerusalem!

 

3. We Practice unity in praying and worshipping together (Rom.15:5-6; Psalm 122:1). We worship together because we have one Father and Him alone we worship.

4.     We Practice Unity in being of One mind together (1Cor.1:10; 2Chronicles 30:12; Phil.2:2).

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

“Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 30:12)

This is arguably the most important aspect of our oneness. Singleness of purpose is essential to our success as a community of believers. We must be of one mind. But how? We must be knit together as one man. We believe the same thing – non-negotiable doctrines. We speak with one voice – agreement. We mind the same thing – one purpose. As we do this we love and care for each other – one community. In this state nothing can be withheld from us!

Unity among believers is non-negotiable. It was commanded by our Lord Jesus. It was the centre point of His final High Priestly prayer. The benefits of holy unity among believers are yet untapped. We intend to tap those benefits by signing up to unity in this congregation – unity of purpose, unity of doctrine, unity of faith, Unity in service, unity in love.

Let us conclude by going back to (Psalm 133:1-3) to see why unity among believers is such a wonderful thing:

(i)      It is good and pleasant
(ii)     It is like precious ointment - the anointing oil that was used to anoint the high priest of Israel was precious. it could not be used for anything else. It was both good and pleasant. Certain pleasant things are not good and certain good things are not pleasant. But unity of believers is bot good and pleasant.
(iii)   It is like the dew of Harmon - it is refreshing and revitalizing.
(iv)   There God commands His blessings - God blesses our unity, but if we walk in disunity, there will be no blessing.
(v)     It is life-giving!

As this one body of Christ becomes of one mind and one voice, the Holy Spirit freely moves to accomplish His work in us. We become true witnesses to the world that Jesus is Lord and Saviour! Miracles, signs and wonders  are awaiting us. Great things are waiting to happen in this Church and it is going to be glorious! The best part of it is that you will be a part of it. Let us all pray for unity as Christ prayed for it, let us seek for unity, let us pursue unity. Great power is waiting to be released to us

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:18–20)

 

Striving for the Faith of the Unchanging Gospel

Jude 1-16; 1Corinthians 15:1-11

Gospel truth never changes. This means that Gospel faith should never change. What is Gospel Truth? It is the truth brought to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, sealed and confirmed by His death and resurrection. What is Gospel Faith? It is the faith that comes as a result of believing the Gospel Truth. This faith can change! That is why there are many different denominations, many different types of Churches. The interpretation of the Truth of the Gospel is many times coloured by the leader’s understanding or vision, his type of education, culture, personal likes and dislikes. This is where error begins to creep in. The true Gospel should be without error, personal preference or falsehood. Looking far into the future, Jude warns us to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3–4, KJV 1900)

There is a danger that Mega Churches are straying from the Gospel once delivered to the saints! I have no quarrel with mega Churches. Deeper Life is a mega Church. Even before the advent of Joel Osten’s Lakewood Church, or Bill Hybel’s Willow Creek Church, or Rick Warrens Saddleback Church, Deeper Life Gbagada Lagos Sunday worship attendance was 60,000, totalling from five services starting from 8 am to 6 pm. The difference is that in Deeper Life the truth is preached in full. Pastors don’t preach to just make you happy for the sake of being happy. We preach for salvation and readiness for heaven. We also preach for good living that show us as salt and light of the world.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13–16, KJV 1900)

We must strive together for the true faith because many errors are flying about and many are deceived by these. We look at three things today: Apostolic Faith Commended; Apostates Falsehood Condemned; Appropriate Effort Commanded.

1.       The Apostolic Faith To Be Contended For (Jude 3; 1Cor.15:1-9; Eph.2:20; 4:14; 1Thes. 2:22; 2John 9,10; 2Tim.2:5; James 1:20)

What was the faith was once (and for all) delivered to the saints? It is the body of teaching delivered to His apostles by Jesus Christ. They were commanded to spread this faith throughout the world (Luke 24:47-49). So it is the gospel of REPENTANCE and REMISSION of sins. It is elsewhere called the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is expressed in Christ’s interpretation of the Law in Sermon on the Mount:

(i)                  The beatitude (Mat.5:3-12)

(ii)                Salt and Light (Mat.5:13-16)

(iii)               The Place of the Law (Mat.5:17-20)

(iv)              About Anger (Mat.5:20-26)

(v)                About Adultery (mat.5:27-30)

(vi)              About Divorce (Mat.5:31-32)

(vii)             About Vows (Mat.5:33-37)

(viii)           About Revenge (Mat.5:38-42)

(ix)              Love for Enemies (Mat.5:43-48)

(x)                About Giving (mat.6:1-4)

(xi)              About Prayer and Fasting (Mat.6:5-18)

(xii)             Money and Possessions (Mat.6:19-34)

(xiii)           Not Judging others (Mat.7:1-6)

(xiv)           About Assurance in Prayer (mat.7:7-10)

(xv)            The Golden Rule (Mat.7:12)

(xvi)           The Narrow Gate (Mat.7:13)

(xvii)         The Tree and Its Fruit (7:15-20)

(xviii)        True Discipleship (Mat.7:21-23)

(xix)           Building on a Solid foundation (Mat.7:28-29)

This is just one body of Christ’s teachings. He taught about abiding in him. He taught about the Holy Spirit. He taught about the Kingdom of God. He taught about hell and eternal punishment for the wicked. He taught about Heaven the eternal reward of the faithful. He taught about his returning again. So the faith once delivered unto the saints is the whole body of Christ’s teaching designed to bring us to repentance and salvation and prepare us for a place in the Holy presence of God in eternity.

Jesus gave the great commission to all believers (Mat.28:18-20). What were they to preach? The faith once delivered unto the saints. Jesus promised (acts 1:8) and gave the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-4) so that the Church can carry this faith once delivered unto the saints into all the world, beginning from Jerusalem. We must contend for this faith.

What does it mean to contend? Nowhere in the Scripture are believers commanded to fight physically in order to spread or preserve the Gospel. In fact He forbids even revenge (Mat.5:38-42) and commands us to love our enemies (Mat.5:43-48).

The Gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only Gospel that can bring Salvation, not social gospel; not self-esteem gospel. Look, self-esteem may be good but it cannot save anyone from sin. It may bring false conversion but no salvation. Social justice is good, but that does not save either. Feeling good about yourself is good but that is not salvation! Prosperity is good and in this church now we need prosperity but the gospel of prosperity does not save! Only Jesus can save. That saving faith will come as a result of preaching this word of salvation and believing in it.

2.       The Apostates Falsehood Condemned (Jude 4-19; 2Pet.2:1-10; Titus 1:16; 1John 2:22-23; 1Tim.4:1-3; 2Tim.3:1-5; 1Tim.6:20)

False teachers and false apostles began to infiltrate the Church in the early stages of its development.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” (2 Peter 2:1–9, KJV 1900)

Apostle Paul warned the leaders of the Church in Ephesus that false teachers will arise from among themselves to lead people away from the true faith!

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:28–32, KJV 1900)

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15, KJV 1900)

What do we know from the Scriptures about these false apostles and apostates? (1) They will parade as ministers of righteousness; (2) They will speak perverse things, accepting sin promoting sin instead of righteousness (3) They will introduce damnable heresies; (4) They will deny the Lord Jesus by their preaching and deeds; (5) They will teach love of self rather than love of God; (6) They will make merchandise of Christians; (7) Their teaching will show a form of godliness but the power of godliness will be missing.

In many assemblies of today’s mega churches, the call to repentance is missing, the need for restitution is missing, and sin is redefined as a mistake or just a wrong choice. Such trivialising of sin has deadly consequences.

In one mega church built on purpose driven principle, 25% of the church's singles, 38% of its single parents, and 41% of its divorced members "admitted to having illicit sexual relationships in the last 6 months. This is the result of false teaching. Apostle Paul calls it having a form of godliness but denying the power. They deny holiness. They deny right living. Cohabitation is no longer considered as living in sin. Homosexuality is now acceptable in many churches.

It is in the news recently that Pope Francis has sent out a questionnaire to all Catholics asking what they think about the Church stand on Homosexuality, birth control, abortion and gay catholic priests. Worldly music, worldly dressing, ostentation, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes which are not from the Father are now very normal among many professing Christians. Sin, the thing that cost Christ His life on the Cross; sin the malady that has eternal consequences in hell fire is trivialised!

Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid (Rom.6:1-2)! Clearly those 25% of singles and 38% of single mothers and 41% of divorcees are continuing in sin! They are not dead to sin. They are living in sin.

The wrath of God is coming upon all those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

If God spared not the angels that sinned but consigned them to chains of darkness, false teachers and false believers will be similarly judged. If because of transgression the old world was destroyed by flood, if Sodom and Gomorrha was burned to ashes, the judgement of god will come upon false prophets and false believers.

The Holy Spirit is right in saying expressly that in the last days shall come perilous times! Jude is very current in exhorting us to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. What shall our response be?

3.       The Appropriate Effort Commanded (Jude 20-25; 2Tim.4:1-4; Rom.12:1-2; 2Pet.1:1-9)

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 20–25, KJV 1900)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1–2, KJV 1900)

What shall we do?

(i)                  Contend for the Faith

(ii)                Build up this most holy Faith in ourselves

(iii)               Pray in the Holy Spirit

(iv)              Keep in the Love of God

(v)                Look for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus

(vi)              Show compassion on those who are being deceived

(vii)             Pull them out of the fire

(viii)           Preach the Word (2Tim.4:1-5)

(ix)              Flee from sin (1Tim.6:11)

(x)                Fight the good fight of faith (1Tim.6:13)

This is serious business brethren! It is not a joke. We are in a warfare. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Jesus Christ is our Captain. He is our Commander. We overcome Satan by His blood and by the word of our testimony. Let us be up and doing for the Lord. Pay the price of serving the Lord. Evangelism is going on in the Church, yet some of you are not touched to be a part of it. You must stand up for Jesus in this day of conflict. Bring in as many as possible to the true faith of Christ.

 

BUILDING TOGETHER AN ENDURING WORK FOR GOD

Exod.35:5-10, 20-29; 36:2-7; Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 6:38

I welcome you all to this morning’s service. I told you that I will be making a special announcement today. That announcement is in the firm of a special message which I have titled “Building Together An Enduring Work for God”. Don’t build alone. Don’t build selfishly. We all as a church must build together. There is an SOS message from our central HQ in London for funds to repay our loan for Transformation house. Before I make that known I want to share the word of God on building together.

 

1.     Remarkable Giving By God’s People (Exo.35:5-10, 20-29;36:2-7)

The occasion was the building of the Tabernacle of the Lord. God’s people had just come out of Egypt and were moving to the Promised Land. They had experienced remarkable display of God’s power to deliver, power to save and power to provide. They had experienced tokens of the presence of God – Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire. Like the psalmist they would say, “For this God is our God forever and ever” (Psalm 48:14). God showed His intention to dwell among the people by asking them to build a Tabernacle for Him.

Exodus 25:8 (KJV 1900)

⁸And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

To build the Tabernacle, God’s people must contribute the building Materials. The response of the people was remarkable. This was a holy project. They gave and gave and gave. Moses scarcely retrained them from Giving. Bezaleel and Aholiab applied their God given skills to the construction of the Tabernacle. God’s Sanctuary was built. It was a most wonderful. Consider the manner of their giving:

(i)                 They gave willingly (Ex.35:5)

(ii)               They Gave Abundantly (Ex.36:2-7)

(iii)             They Gave Unanimously (Ex.35:23-28)

(iv)              They Gave Appropriately (Ex.35:24-29)

(v)                They Gave of Their Substance

(vi)              They Gave High quality gifts (Ex.25:8)

(vii)            They Gave Till Restrained (Ex.36:6-7)

When the Sanctuary was completed and reared up. The Glory of God appear over it. That was a sign of Divine approval.

Numbers 9:15–16 (KJV 1900)

¹⁵And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.

¹⁶So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.

God has come to dwell among His people. That is the greatest desire of God’s people – for God to dwell among them. Our greatest desire is for God to dwell among us.

Exodus 29:44–45 (KJV 1900)

⁴⁴And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office.

⁴⁵And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

Leviticus 26:11–12 (KJV 1900)

¹¹And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

¹²And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Building the house of God was something taken very seriously by the people of God. When David wanted to build the Temple of God, God did not permit him. So he provided all the building materials for the Temple and left them for his son Solomon to use to build the Temple.

1 Chronicles 22:6–8, 14, 19 (KJV 1900)

⁶Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel.

⁷And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God:

⁸But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

¹⁴Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

¹⁹Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.

For Moses to build the Sanctuary of the Lord, all the building materials were abundantly provided. Although David could not build the Temple of the Lord, he provided all the necessary materials for building the Temple!

But in our own case today, speaking idiomatically I can tell you that we are still looking for building materials to build the house of God which is in London.

2.     Reproachable Gloss Over Of God’s House (Haggai 1:1-15; Luke 12:16-21)

Many centuries later in the life of the children of Israel, the story changed. People began to settle down to build their own houses. And the build of the house of God was neglected. God was not pleased. He Spoke to them through prophet Haggai. It had been sixteen years since the foundation of the Temple of the Lord was laid by Zerubabel and Joshua the son of Josedech. Now it was overgrown by weeds. While this was happening God’s people were living in apparent security and safety in their own homes. Then came the word of the Lord in the form rebuk

Haggai 1:2–11 (KJV 1900)

²Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.

³Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

⁴Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, And this house lie waste?

⁵Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

⁶Ye have sown much, and bring in little; Ye eat, but ye have not enough; Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; Ye clothe you, but there is none warm; And he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

⁷Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

⁸Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; And I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

⁹Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; And when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, And ye run every man unto his own house.

¹⁰Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, And the earth is stayed from her fruit.

¹¹And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, And upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, And upon that which the ground bringeth forth, And upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

This unacceptable negligence brought God’s judgement upon them. Look at five different things that happened to them as a result of this negligence.

(i)                 The Rebuke of procrastination (Hag.1:2-4)

(ii)               The Reaping of Poverty (Hag.1:5-6; Luke 12:16-21)

(iii)             The Reason for Poverty (Hag.1:9-11; Prov.11:24-26)

(iv)              The Remedy for Poverty (Hag.1:5,7,8)

(v)                The Renewal of Purpose (Hag.1:12-15)

The reason for this message is the need for the DCLM Central Head Quarter building in London, known as the Transformation House. It is a truly magnificent building. Those who have been there testify to that. To bring that building to its present state, DCLM UK borrow money form Barclays Bank. At the moment, our Church owes £3.5 million to Barclays. The repayment has been agreed to £50000 per month. All the Churches in the London area put all their offerings together to try to raise money for this.

In order to help out, we have been mandated to do fund raising among ourselves to help pay off the loan… I believe we can do it. We must renew our purpose and build the house of the Lord. We must give willingly.

3.     Remonstration To Give To God’s Service (Mal.3:8-10; Luke 6:38; 2Cor.9:6-8)

We need to draw some lesson from these passages:

(i)                 Tithe Is Symbolical (Bring ye “All”. Everything belongs to God)

(ii)               Tithe Supports God’s Work (That there may be meat in my house)

(iii)             Tithe Prepares the Believer To Receive (And prove me herewith)

This is this the approved way of having regular supply in God’s house. When a believer keeps back His Tithe, he has practically robbed God of what is due Him. And that will bring poverty.

Someone may say, what about those people who have millions and are very prosperous but never pay any tithe or give any offering in the house of God? You only have to read Luke 12 to help you never to think along that line:

Luke 12:16–21 (KJV 1900)

¹⁶And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Are you rich towards God? Listen to Jesus

Luke 6:38 (KJV 1900)

³⁸Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

(i)                The Command is – Give!

(ii)              The Compensation is – It shall be given you

(iii)            The Creed is – With what measure you give

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (KJV 1900)

⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

As you give your tithe do not give sparingly. As you make your commitment to give in support of the Church building do not give sparingly.

The Widow that Jesus commended did not just give a mite, she gave ALL. She was not commended for giving a might. She was commended for giving all. If you give all you will be commended. If you are a millionaire give all. If you are a billionaire, give all. Whatever you have, give all and the Lord will commend you! He will bless you!

(Take the offering at this point)