What Are You Giving To God? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

The God we serve is One that gives. Before He created man, God had made sure that all man would need was ready, so that He gave them everything free of charge. The man was only to maintain that which was given.

God however always demand that the man give Him back something in return for all He must have done. For Adam and Eve, God wanted their heart, their trust, their loyalty, their devotion and their fellowship. They however failed God.

When man fell from grace. To restore man to Himself, God again had to give His only begotten Son, so that anyone that believes in this provision will be saved.

From that time on, even though God has universal blessings for all the works of His hands, He still looks for people who are willing to give certain things to Him, so that He can bless them even the more.

The tendency of man is usually to seek, receive and be blessed. But those who are knowledgeable in life know too well that those who give are those who are blessed the most.

– For example, in secular life, experience shows us that those employers who give more to their workers and customers tend to have more and more.

God is the Giver, Provider, and Sustainer of good and great things. The way to receive from Him is by giving to Him and giving to things He approve of.

We had a guest minister last week, we were taught certain areas of our lives as Christians that we will render account unto Jesus when we see Him:

– How we spend Our life (creation & redemption)

– How we use Our time (judiciously or anyhow)

– How we use Our talents (gain more or hide it)

– How we spend Our money (stingy or liberal)

– How we use Our possessions (selfish or charitable)

– How we treat the Gospel of Christ (not bothered or witnessing)

In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says we are created for good works which were ordained before we were born. The question is, are we walking in those works?

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In I Cor. 7: 23-24, the bible again tells us that we are bought with a price. The precious blood of His dear Son. When you buy something, you expect it to serve you. If it doesn’t, you try and return it to the seller, if the seller refused to have it back, it’s discarded.

1 Corinthians 7:23-24 – Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

The God we serve is a jealous God. Been a Spirit, we cannot hide anything from Him.

We may claim that we love Him, whether we do or not, He knows.

God demands love that is greater than all other loves we may have.

If the percentage is less than that, He again knows.

The example of Peter readily comes to mind. We all know that Peter loved Jesus. Peter also expressed that to Jesus, which Jesus did not deny.

But Jesus was measuring the love Peter had for Him in relation to the love he had for his stomach and his business.

John 21:15-17 – So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Apostle James, the brother of Jesus gave us a crucial statement in James 2:14-17, that faith without works is dead.

We are all here today, because of our faith in God, which is good. But what or which work are we combining with our faith? And how well are we doing the work?

James 2:14-17 – What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jesus said to His disciples, to whom much is given, much also is required. Most times we concentrate on what God is yet to do for us. But God has given us a lot of things:

– The breath of life comes from Him (Job 33:4)

– Good health comes from Him (3 John 2)

– Power to make wealth comes from Him (Deut. 8:18)

– Power over serpent and scorpion comes from Him (Luke 10:19)

What do you give unto Him in return?

There are various examples of men in the bible who gave their all unto God:

– David facing Goliath was offering his life. Esther gave her life to God. Take my life…

– Abraham gave his only son. Hannah gave her first child. What is the best thing in your life? That Isaac or laughter? If God put His finger on it, can you give it?

– ObedEdom gave his property and the life of his entire household.

– Joseph Arimathea gave his tomb. Easy to give used thing. Something you haven’t used.

– The boy that gave his lunch to feed the multitude.

Even though God demand things from us. It is actually to find an avenue to bless us the more. There is usually a huge reward attached to such giving from us when it’s done willingly.

Apostle Peter asked Jesus a question that what will be the reward for all that they have given to God through Christ, the answer Jesus gave was very assuring.

Luke 18:28-30 – Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

As I conclude, I can only say that no matter what your age is today, time will not wait for you. Whatever you think you can do for God and humanity must be done now.

The reason been that your night and my night is fast approaching, and when the night comes, no one can work any longer.

John 9:4 – I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

On your way home this afternoon, continue to meditate on this sentence: ‘What am I giving to God?’ Is it the best you can? If you deceive yourself, remember God cannot be mocked. Let us pray.

Prayers

Father tell me exactly what to give to you

Father help me to obey you to give what you require of me

Father, help me to give the very best of what you require.

The sermon, What Are You Giving To God? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye was delivered on June 18, 2017.

Your Life Is Better Than This, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

This message is for someone who is thinking ‘could this be the best of me?’. God wants me to tell you that, Your life is better than what it is now; you are not at your predestined level yet; and that you will get there in Jesus name.

Life can be likened to a journey. So that it is possible that along the way, one might get to a particular Bus Stop where the place looks attractive, and one might be tempted to come down and stay.
In Gen. 19: 17-26, Lot was been led away from Sodom and Gomorrah by two angels, it was not an easy journey. They were leaving everything they owned and their son in-laws behind. He was to flee unto high ground, he was simply tired and so he asked for permission to dwell in a city at a plain not far off.
Sadly, evil befell him as they proceed to this location. His wife became a pillar of salt.
May you not settle for an attractive place over a Divine appointed place.

It is also possible that a co-traveller may decide to get off where they felt their journey should end, and one might also be tempted to settle there with them as well.
In Gen 11:31-32, after God spoke to Abram to begin a journey to a place He would show him, he commenced, but went with his father and his nephew.
When they got to Haran, his father decided to settle and Abram stayed as well. Meanwhile God had not told him that Haran was the Promised Land.  It took the death of his father, before his eyes opened that he wasn’t in the Promised Land yet (Gen 12:1).

Genesis 11:31-32 – And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 12:1 – Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Just because Haran was already built up and somehow comfortable doesn’t mean it is Canaan. The name might even seem alike, but the blessing will be different.
You will get to your Canaan in Jesus name. May you not settle for Haran.

My experience with my colleague in the Army when I was reading for JAMB on guard duties. My colleagues making a mockery of me.
I later left them. The people my life has influenced so far couldn’t have been reached if I was still in the Army.
I would have lived, served the nation, collected meagre salary, retired, collected pension and died!

Maybe you need to acquire more knowledge to get to where God wants you to be. Don’t hesitate.
It may be a change of job that you need for your next level.
It may be that you need a change of associates. Be bold and determined to make the decision. Your own ‘Terah’ will not die before you realise in Jesus name.

It may also be that the vehicle that one is travelling in got damaged at a place and one might just conclude that they have reached the final stop.
Joseph’s life was a journey. He was to travel on the vehicle of dreams till he would reach his final destination. The vehicle however had problem, when he relayed certain dream to his brothers, it almost cost him his life.
Joseph did not give up though, it was still that vehicle of dream that brought him to where he needed to be in life.

Has something tampered with your life journey vehicle?
Don’t give up on it or whatever it is.
May that vehicle still serve you in Jesus name.

It may also be that the journey is rough and difficult, so that one might conclude that it’s not worth it to continue. One might just simply be fed up and want to call it quit.
In I Kings 17:1, we first heard of prophet Elijah. He must have had a rough beginning in life, as his father was not significant. He used to wear animal skin belt as against that of cotton, linen, silk or satin. Yet he surrendered his life to be used by God.
But when Jezebel vowed to kill him after the victory at Mount Carmel, he didn’t want to proceed on in the journey of life again.
Little did he know that God’s plan for him was different, that he would be the second longest lived person in the history of mankind.
God does not kill His generals, He rather promotes them.

– You are been threatened by witches. I declare in Jesus name that you will live long.
– The word of God for you today is ‘You are not there yet’.
You will reach you goal.
Your life journey will not be terminated halfway.
Your life shall not fizzle out like smoke.
I am asked to tell someone here by God, the end hasn’t come for you.
The years ahead of you shall be more formidable than those before as The Lord lives.
I revoked every enchantment against you in Jesus name.
Everyone trying to cut short your destiny short shall be thrown into everlasting confusion in Jesus name.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

May your journey of life be peaceful.
You shall not suffer evil.
Your expected end shall be attained in Jesus name.

In I Sam. 16: 13, Prophet Samuel anointed David as king over the whole of Israel. The young man may have thought that it will be anytime soon, but Saul remained on the throne after that for a long time.
David could have thought even if I didn’t become the king, from the last of 8 sons to a captain of 600 men and their families; life is not bad after all. He however knew that he was not where God has promised him yet.
David eventually became the king of Judah and soon afterwards, the king of Israel, according to the word of God.

Someone here, God has prepared a throne for you, you will ascend on it in Jesus name.
Several powers have been trying to take the throne away from you or chase you away from the throne; they will all fail in Jesus name.

Another person listening to me now, God has laid it in my heart to tell you that your stories of today shall be sweet testimonies of tomorrow.

The bible tells us that after Naomi lost her husband and two sons in Moab where they went to seek a better life, she resigned her fate to go and live the rest of her life as a failure in Canaan.
What she didn’t know is that God had a better plan her life. She soon became the grandmother to a child called Jesse who was the father of King David and as such entered into the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Someone here, I declare in Jesus name, your past tears shall not be remembered again.
Sweeter and better days are ahead of you.
For a lady here, God says He is preparing your own Boaz.
Whatever that means for you, may you not miss it in Jesus name.

Are you trusting God for fruit of the womb and you are advancing in age? Your expected end shall not be cut off in Jesus name.
God will console you adequately.

All those who had temporary shut of womb in the bible, eventually gave birth to babies with great destinies, so that their waiting time was truly worth it.
Hannah may have waited for more than 20 years – Samuel
Sarah possibly more than 60 years – Isaac
Rebekah for 20 years – Esau & Jacob
Rachel for more than 7 years – Joseph & Benjamin
Manoah’s wife only God knows how long – Samson

May God give you a Samuel for your waiting. May God bless you with an Isaac, a Jacob or a Joseph in Jesus name.
May your laughter begin from now.
May the power to be fruitful and flourish come upon you now.

Few years ago, a famous pop musician was working on a musical tour which he called ‘This is it’. It was supposed to be his final stage tour before retiring. Sadly it was the last of the last for him.

This is not it for you.
May where you are now not be it for you in Jesus name.
There will be more to you than this.
This is not the end for you.
This is not even the beginning of the end.
Your journey has only just began.
You are moving forward.
You are going higher.
You are waxing stronger.
You are getting bigger
You are becoming more rooted.
You are becoming more relevant.
You are taking more territories in Jesus name.

Prayers
Father, let this not be the end of me and what I will become.
Father let me attain the level you have predestined for me by Your grace and even surpass it in Jesus name.
Father, let the journey of my life be in the upward direction only.
Father, take me to a height where I will simply glide effortlessly
Father, make me to soar at an amazing altitude of life
Father, grant me the grace for an uncommon soaring.
Father, help me to soar above all situation and circumstances of life.

The sermon, Your Life Is Better Than This, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on May 28, 2017