QUALITIES OF AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING BEFORE GOD

If you are born again, what you will have in your heart is that God should be happy with you.

1John 3:14 says: One way to test your born again is through your attitude towards others. A genuine born again Christian will have the passion for God to love him.

If you are born again and have the holy spirit inside you, you will have the passion to please God above all things.

Galatians 2:10 says: They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.(NKJV)

When you give your life to Christ, your desires dries up. Though this does not happen to every person. As you have the desire of your flesh, you will have another thing pulling you to another direction. If you get born again and you don’t desire to read your bible or fellowship with the brethren, your salvation may not be real because salvation is meant to change you from the inside.

Philippians 2:12 says: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling;(NKJV)

The bible cannot deliver you, what delivers you is the word in your heart. God’s word is powerful, when it gets into your heart and come out of your mouth great things happens.

Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.(NKJV)

QUALITIES OF AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING BEFORE GOD

1. HAVE AN ATTITUDE THAT PLEASES GOD.

Hebrews 11:17 says: By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,(NKJV)

2. Malachi 1:6 says: "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'(NKJV)

Malachi 1:7-8 says: "You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts.(NKJV)

Can anyone offer a bad gift to someone who helps him or her?  You have to offer to God with reverence. You must offer to God what is prepared in advance because it is an art of worship. A sacrifice is measured by what you kept back to yourself after you gave it.

Malachi 1:14 says: "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished-- For I am a great King," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.(NKJV)

Proverbs 11:24 says: There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.(NKJV)

2. GIVE IN THE SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP:

What was given to you was given to multiply and glorify God.

There is no law of productivity like the law of ownership. You are going to give account for the words you speak the Bible said. If you are going to give account of the words you speak, what about what was committed to your hands. God has not given us any resource to expend on ourselves.

Psalm 50:6-12 says: Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah "Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.(NKJV)

You are just a custodian of what is given to you.

1 Chronicles 29:10-12 says: Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.(NKJV)

This is the secret  of David’s success. David understands that promotion, success and everything comes from God. In other words, giving to God is a privilege. When a believer goes with the world mentality which is get all you can, he misses his direction because this is not the plan of God.

1 Chronicles 29:14-15 says: But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.(NKJV)

Everything you have now is to equip yourself for what will come in the future.

Jesus said in Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?(KJV)

3. GIVE JOYFULLY

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says: If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, [in that] which he wanteth.(KJV)

4. GIVE WILLINGLY:

1 Chronicles 29:9 says: Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.(NKJV)

1 Chronicles 29:17 says: I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.(NKJV)

Why is it important to offer willingly? You must offer willingly because that is the way you will get your reward. This is because God checks our heart.

1 Corinthians 9:16-17 says: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.(NKJV)

Anything you are willing to do will be one of the major things that will ensure you get your reward.

2 Corinthians 8:12 says: For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.(NKJV)

The Bible says there must be a willing mind. If you offer willingly and obediently, you will eat the fruit of the land. If you are willing to give anything to God, it shows you’ve conquered Marmon

5. GIVE SACRIFICIALLY

Give according the size of your vision, according to what you are believing God for.

Psalm 126:5-6 says: Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.(NKJV)

6. GIVE BY FAITH

The bible said it is impossible to please God without faith. You must give by faith and believe God for a harvest. The only investment you have for your future is your seed.

                                                                                        

Watch testimonies from the previous edition of Dominion Mandate Lagos.

Dominion Convention - December Edition

Never forget to join us on the December edition of Dominion Convention Lagos.
Date: 6th - 8th December 2013
Venue: RUBY GARDENS BY 4TH ROUND ABOUT BESIDE OANDO FILLING STATION,LEKKI, LAGOS.
Host: God's servant Pastor David Ogbueli.
We are looking forward to seeing you there.

THE SIX DEVICES OF SATAN

2 Corinthians 2:11 says:

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.(KJV)

This scripture makes us to understand that we are in a battle. Once you are a Christian you have been listed as a soldier. This means that satan want to take advantage of you. He has tools and weapons. Satan does not observe rules that are given rather he observes the rules that are enforced. If you don’t open your mouth and declare it, he will take advantage of you. Satan attacks your identity in Christ, this is what sin brings. Man is the only creature that is designed to function like God. Man was designed with a spirit living in a soul. Take for instance homosexuality; satan tries to destroy the identity of man to the point of doing even what animals are not meant to do. If you a believer you need to know who you are and the tools that are available for you. Insecurity is one of the dangerous things that can happen to a man, when you know yourself insecurity will not be your problem again. Another thing to know is your enemy. When you know your tools, you also need to know who your enemy is. Your enemy is not a human being, it is the satan.

Ephesians 6:11says: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.(KJV)

The Bible tells us to put on the armour of God so as to be able to stand the wiles of satan. What does wile stand for? Wiles mean skills, methods, patterns.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE SIX DEVICES OF SATAN
1.         DOUBT: Satan uses doubt as a weapon. Doubt is a very powerful tool that he uses. He will cause you to doubt your identity in God. The first thing satan does is to introduce deception and that was what he did to Eve. He made Eve belief that if she eats the fruit, she will be like what God has already made her. He tries to remove the reality that God had deigned in her.  It was the same case with Jesus. Satan has been a liar since from the beginning, lies is his native language. Nothing is yours until you know it. If you don’t who you are, satan will take advantage of you.

Genesis 3:1-5 says: Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die."' Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."(NKJV)

Matthew 4:3 says: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.(KJV)

2.         DISTRACTION:

 Another D of satan is distraction. He tries to introduce something that looks like the real one. Satan is the master of imitation. 

Acts 5:37 says: After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.(KJV)

Satan knew that God is going to bring a redeemer to Israel. What satan does is to bring a counterfeit. Having the fake makes you to understand that the original exists. He fakes everything that God has done or plans to do.  

3.         DESIRE/GREED:

Greed the Bible said is equivalent to idolatry. Greed is a mortal sin. People don’t give because of greed.

Colossians 3:5 says: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry :(KJV)

Ephesians 5:5 says: For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.(KJV)

4.         DREAD/FEAR:

Satan is the forerunner of fear. Fear is negative faith. Fear is faith in satan, faith in your circumstances, faith that your problems will get bigger. Whenever there is fear, know that satan is around the corner. Fear is a demon that torments people. You need to know who you are. The Bible says resist the devil and he will flee James 4:7.

 2 Timothy 1:7 says: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(KJV)

1 John 4:18 says: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.(KJV)

5.         DISCOURAGEMENT

Job is a good example of this. Job was a rich farmer, he was a big industrialist. The donkeys were his implements of mechanized farming. They were the things that made him reach.

Job 1:1 says: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.(KJV)

The first way God defines prosperity is spiritual prosperity.

Job 1:2 says: And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.(KJV)

This is Relational prosperity.  

Job 1:13 says: And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:(KJV)

In-spite of all the sufferings of Job, he did not offend God. Job 1:1-22.

But satan came back and yet Job did not fail God.

Job 1:16-17: says: While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.(KJV)

All the people that came all came alone and none of them brought good news, all what they brought was sad news. In-spite of what happened to Job, he did not disobey God. Job was a

Job 1:20-21 says: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.(KJV)

Satan came back to God and God boasted with Job. Satan brought disease upon Job that was so severe that even his wife asked him to course God and die.

Devil always makes you feel that God has forgotten about you. He brings discouragement.

Job got to the point of not even hearing from or seeing God. Usually he interacts with God, but look at what he said:

Job 23:10 says: But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.(KJV)

Even when  nobody encourages you, the Bible said David encouraged himself. Fight discouragement. Stand and never be afraid.

Ephesians 6:13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.(KJV)

Stand means to stand in defense of what has already been given to you.

Don’t complain, don’t murmur and tempt God. Don’t doubt God. If you ever doubt him, look carefully the great things he has done for you in the past. As you thank him you obligate him to do more.

Psalm 78:40-41 says: How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.(KJV)

1 Corinthians 10:8-10 says: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.(KJV)

THE MASTER HAS NEED OF YOU

SERVICE IS THE PATHWAY TO HONOUR

Service is the pathway to honour. The reward for service is honour. The primary purpose of God saving us is to serve Him.

Exodus 7:16

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.(KJV)

Let my people go, God said this so that His people will serve Him. What is the motif your salvation? It is nothing more than to serve Him. The primary purpose of it is not to prosper you but to serve and worship Him in spirit and in truth.  

Luke 1:74

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,(KJV)

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.(KJV).

This heritage is not for church goers but for the servants of the Lord.

Psalm 91:11

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].(AMP)

Why would God invest in you?

Job 36:11

If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy.(AMP)

Humility is one of the things lacking in the church. Respect and honour is not more there in the church. We are all working and living big. Sometimes nothing in the kingdom concerns us. If you want to be the greatest, you must be a servant. Serve the Lord and gain everything.  Jesus is God yet He humbled himself and came down from God just to save us. You go to work very early in the morning everyday yet on Sunday you would want to rest. The day of meeting with the King of Kings becomes your resting day. God never forget those who serve Him diligently. It does not matter whether man is seeing you or not, what matters is the service you are rendering to God. You must not be a pastor to serve. You must not be a bishop. Even if you go to Chevron everyday you will not receive their salary, they pay only those who are in their payroll who are serving.

Service is the pathway to honour

The strength of service is determined by whom you are serving. We are serving the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You will not lack when you are serving the God who owes the whole world. The primary aim of a Christian is to get God’s attention and this can only be achieved through service to God. There is a place for everyone in the kingdom, we have opportunity to serve. We are all saved to serve. There is no excuse for this task; God is in need of you. He is looking for those who will say “Here I am Lord, send me”. Get back in service; there are departments in the church where you can function.