IF YOU STOLE OR CHEATED AND USED THE MONEY FOR OFFERING, IT MULTIPLIES YOUR OFFENSE
GOD’S BLESSING IS LOOKING FOR THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS
TO BE SLACK IS TO BE IN LACK BUT TO RELEASE DILIGENCE IS TO RECEIVE ABUNDANCE
IT IS STRONG, FORCEFUL AND ENERGETIC PEOPLE THAT RECEIVE AND RETAIN RICHES, NOT LAZY, WEAK AND ENERGY-LESS MEN
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY IS THE WAY TO FINANCIAL AUTHORITY
WHAT GOD HAS NOT GIVEN YOU DOES NOT ADD ANYTHING TO YOU, RATHER IT TAKES SOMETHING FROM YOU
TO GET THE BEST OUT OF LIFE, YOU MUST GIVE YOUR VERY BEST TO LIFE
IF YOU SOW MEDIOCRITY, YOU REAP OBSCURITY BUT IF YOU SOW QUALITY, YOU REAP DIGNITY
IF THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST 5 OR 10 IN WHATEVER YOU DO AND YOUR NAME DOES NOT COME UP, SOMETHING IS WRONG
DON’T LET YOUR EXCELLENCE BE ONLY IN YOUR CONTAINER – WHAT YOU’RE WEARING, LET YOUR EXCELLENCE BE IN YOUR CONTENT – WHAT YOU CARRY
IF YOU WANT GOD TO EMPOWER YOU WITH RESOURCES IN THIS ENDTIME, EVERYTHING YOU DO, DO IT TOP NOTCH
BAD MANAGERS OF RESOURCES WOULD ALWAYS LOSE RESOURCES TO GOOD MANAGERS OF RESOURCES
INVESTMENT IS A STRATEGY AGAINST WASTEFULNESS BECAUSE MONEY IS WASTED WHEN IT’S NOT GIVEN ASSIGNMENT
EXPENDITURE IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF MONEY, INVESTMENT IS THE PURPOSE OF MONEY
ANYBODY PUTTING YOUR LIFE UNDER PRESSURE TO BE SPENDING RAW MONEY ON THEM IS NOT DOING YOU THE BEST
TODAY, WHEN SOME PEOPLE SAY, “I HAVE AN NGO OR A FOUNDATION” IT MEANS, “I HAVE REGISTERED SOMETHING TO COLLECT FREE MONEY SO I CAN USE BUY A CAR AND BUILD HOUSES”
TITHING OUT OF THE MONEY DONATED TO THE NEEDY IS CURSED MONEY
WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE, SUCCEED WITH IT WELL FIRST BEFORE YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR COMFORT
INVESTMENT IS SUPERIOR TO ENJOYMENT
WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY HOUSE RENT IN A CERTAIN AREA, YOUR MENTALITY SHOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU DON’T BELONG THERE
REMEMBERING THE POOR IS PART OF COVENANT OBLIGATIONS
TO GIVE TO THE POOR IS TO LEND TO THE LORD AND GOD CANNOT OWE ANYBODY, HE PAYS WITH INTEREST
ANY RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT APPEARS TOO JUICY TO BE TRUE IS LIKELY NOT TRUE
DON’T TAKE UP MORE BUSINESSES AND MONEY PURSUITS OR RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE BEYOND BOTH YOUR MANAGEMENT AND MANPOWER CAPACITY
FUNCTIONING WITH FOCUS IS THE KEY TO FINANCIAL FUTURE
TO PURSUE TOO MANY THINGS ALL AT ONCE IS TO END WITH NOTHING AT THE END
LET PEOPLE NOT SEE YOU COMING UNTIL YOU EXPLODE
DON’T LET MONEY USHER YOU INTO THE REALM OF PRIDE AND ARROGANCE
WHEN YOU COME TO THE POINT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOUR HEAD IS TOO BIG FOR YOUR BODY, A COLLAPSE IS INEVITABLE
– Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche on “KNOWING MONEY – Part 2” || July Blessing Sunday || Glory Dome, Abuja.
We started the Knowledge series last month and one of it is spilling up into this Sunday but it’s appropriate for today. Church Gist. We started with Knowing God, then continued with knowing ourselves and then knowing our work and then knowing our Spiritual family and then knowing our relationships and we went on to knowing money. We started last Sunday. This morning, if the message goes over one hour, it is important because of the things that God would want us to learn and hear from this subject. Money has sent more people to hell than any other thing. Church Gist. We are looking at “Knowing Money – Part 2”. I’ll like us to see the objectives as we saw from last week and then we take it up from there.
1. Understanding why we must know money – the power of money.
2. Understanding what our relationship with money should be. Which we did last Sunday.
3. Kingdom keys to having money. We saw a portion of that last week.
4. Understanding what to do with money – the possibilities of money, literally the Management of money.
5. Understanding money traps to avoid – the problems of money.
So we are going to continue from number 3 where we stopped last Sunday. Understanding Kingdom keys to having money. Church Gist. We did 3 points out of them and I will continue this morning.
1. Possess the God-first mentality. Mathew 6:33
2. Possess Kingdom vision. What do you want to do with God’s Kingdom? If God puts money in your hand, what would you do with it? Church Gist. How will it affect the Kingdom?
3. Maintain the covenant practice of giving and tithing. Genesis 8:22.
Those three we dealt with last week, now we are going to go into more practical things
4. Be a diligent labourer. God is the rewarder of the diligent labourer. Proverbs 14:23. I’ll like you to note the following;
4a. God causes the labourer to see profit.
4b. The blessing of the Lord is permanently in search of the work of a man’s hand. Deuteronomy 28:8. Church Gist. God’s blessing is looking for the work of your hands.
4c. Proverbs 10:4. To be slack is to be in lack but to release diligence is to receive abundance.
4d. Life is never easy for the lazy. Proverbs 10:4. You look at the labour of Jacob in Genesis 31:40, these are examples of men who laboured. In Genesis 26:18-20, we saw the labour of Isaac. Church Gist. He would dig the well, the Philistines would stop him, he would go again. He kept on working until he outworked them. Genesis 26:22. Proverbs 11:16. What’s the meaning of that? It is strong, forceful and energetic people that receive and retain riches, not lazy, weak and energy-less men. Church Gist. I’m not talking about the crooked and the fraudulent.
– every trace of laziness and indolence, I command it to die from anybody here right now in the name of Jesus!
5. Maintain financial integrity. I want you to take note of the following:
5a. Financial integrity is the way to financial authority. I’m not just talking of financial prosperity, I’m talking of authority – coming to a place where you’re in charge of resources. Job 1:1-3 gives us an example of a man of integrity who was a man of authority. Church Gist. He was upright, so you don’t have to be crooked to succeed. Genesis 39:5-6. Nothing missed or disappeared under Joseph’s watch. Financial integrity is the way to financial authority.
5b. Financial crookedness is the way to financial wretchedness. Crookedness is wretchedness tomorrow. You remember the story of Achan in Joshua 7:20-21. Israel was on a journey and God had given them a command not to steal or touch what was not theirs but Achan took what was not his. Joshua 7:20-24. Church Gist. They did not only bring out what Achan stole, Achan lost what he stole plus what he had before the stealing. He lost everything. Financial crookedness is the way to financial wretchedness.
5c. Financial transgression can lead to life and destiny abortion. Church Gist. That is, people lose destiny and possibly lose life from financial transgression. Not just the loss of things, Achan lost his property but beyond that loss, Achan lost his life, his wife and children lost their lives, because of taking what was not meant to be his. Joshua 7:24-27. What of Gehazi? 2 Kings 5:24-27. Church Gist. He lost his destiny, his life and dignity because of taking what was not his. What of Judas Iscariot? Judas stole and stole until he decided to sell his Master. The stealing was not enough, he had to sell his Master. Matthew 27:3-8. What was the outcome of Judas? Anybody who steals here, don’t bring the money near here. If you stole, if you collected bribe, if you made money from crookedness, if you duped or cheated people, If you put that money in the offering, it multiplied your offense. Matthew 27:6-7. Church Gist. That was what Judas’ life achieved on earth – burial ground. Burial ground that people would be running when they are passing.
I am talking to young people here who are in a hurry to make money, I’m talking to mature people here, financial transgression can lead to life and destiny abortion. Finally, Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:1-21. Church Gist. The meaning of that is, what God has not given you does not add anything to you, rather it takes something from you. Anything God didn’t give you, “God didn’t give you” means you didn’t get it through legitimate means, labour, favour or wisdom, your certificate didn’t give you, you got it by stealing, lying, cheating and duping, anything you get like that does not add anything to you rather it takes something out of your life. Church Gist. That’s why some people are wondering why God is not blessing them because there are several places where they are cheating and duping people. They are lying to get money.
– you will succeed! In the name of Jesus.
6. Produce excellence. Ecclesiastes 9:10. Give your task your best. Anything you do, give it all it takes. Church Gist. What does it mean to you? First, Proverbs 22:29. Take note of this:
6a. Quality attracts both quantity and prosperity. Look at the lives of Joseph, David and Daniel. Church Gist. They were the best at what they did. They attracted both prosperity, quantity and affluence. For Joseph, Genesis 41:39-44, how he became the commander of the resources of Egypt because he gave it the best. For David, 1 Chronicles 29:1-5, we saw how David exploded in resources because he gave the best to life. For Daniel, Daniel 2:46-49.
6b. To get the best out of life, you must give your very best to life. Church Gist. Lawyer, Medical Doctor, Business man, whatever be your field, God wants us to have the best, He wants us to be at the top, a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. Avoid the way of average.
6c. Those who sow average reap obscurity but those who sow excellence, you reap eminence. If you sow mediocrity, you reap obscurity but if you sow quality, you reap dignity. Don’t let mediocrity and shabbiness be identified with your life. Anywhere anything goes, nothing goes, let the world look for you, for your excellence and your quality. Church Gist. Somebody invited me to a place to come and minister, I said, “I must be in Church on Sunday”. He said, “whatever it will take you to be there and whatever it will take to return you back to your country on Sunday, we will do it”. You know what that means? Church Gist. That, “even if you don’t have to fly commercial, if we have to rent anything to bring you back, we want you to minister to us at that time”.
There are times you go to Hilton or a 5-star hotel in town and they say it is fully booked, no space. You wanted to pay close to a million for a night but no room. But there are other hotels by the side here that have plenty rooms. Church Gist. You went there, you say you want to buy a plate of food, they ask you to pay 7,000-10,000 for one food and there are other places where you can get the food for 500 naira but in that place, be ready to locate some flies or some stones inside the food. Anything can be found in the food when necessary. In some of those places what they are selling is not just the food but the climate, the aesthetics, excellence and the beauty. Church Gist. Am I communicating at all? If they are looking for the 10 of the best in your field, if your name does not come up, something is wrong. Whatever you do, whatever you supply, whatever organization you’re functioning in, if they are talking about the first 5 or 10 and your name does not come up, something is wrong. I want to provoke you because the Bible said we are the city set on a hill, we are the light of the world that cannot be hid. Church Gist. Don’t let your excellence be only in your container – what you’re wearing, let your excellence be in your content – wetin you carry. There are people excellently dressed but shabbily delivering. By the time you see the way they look, your hope is raised, by the time they begin to function, your hope is dashed.
– that will never be your portion!
If you want God to empower you with resources in this endtime, everything you do, do it top notch, top of the range, above board.
7. Possess good management. If you’re going to see rewards from God, what He puts in your hands, you must manage it well. Genesis 2:5. Church Gist. For as long as nobody is there to manage it well, God would never send the Blessing. Now, take note of what I am about to say, The Blessing of God is in search of good management. When it’s talking about ‘rain’, it’s talking about blessing from above and when it’s talking about ’tilling the earth’, it’s talking about somebody managing something well. Because there was no man to manage well, the rain from Heaven was not falling. Genesis 2:5. Matthew 25:27-29. Church Gist. This is the principle, bad managers of money lose money to good managers of money. That’s the law of life. Bad managers of resources would always lose resources to good managers of resources. If they say “the rich are getting rich”, I’m talking of legitimate riches, it is because they know what to do with the resources, “and the poor are getting poor”, it’s because the poor are mismanaging the resources. Church Gist. Bad managers of resources would lose money to good managers of money. It is a law. Money runs away from those who mismanage it in the direction of those who manage it correctly. If you look at the Prodigal son in Luke 15:13, he had plenty money before but he went and wasted it. Luke 15:13-14. Waste would always lead to want. Money is in haste where there’s waste. Money is in a hurry, it doesn’t tarry. Waste is one of the bad management that people can do. Church Gist. When somebody gets money and the only thing coming to his mind is what to buy, drive or wear. That is mismanagement through lack of an investment mindset. That is mismanagement atimes through unwise decision and choices. Hallelujah.
There are many people, they say, “I have paid my tithe. I have given my offering”. One, he’s a hard worker, very lazy, by 10am, he’s still tying wrapper at home. Two, he has no integrity, he’s giving but cheating people, he’s tithing but lying, he’s cutting corners to try to make money. Church Gist. So plus one, minus one equal zero. Three, he’s a very terrible manager of money. He got a job that gave him a profit of 5 million, then he went and started pricing cars of 6 million and he’s begging, “all I have is 5 million, please”. Then, he found for 4.95 million, he bought it, the balance of the money is 50,000. Big man has arrived, overnight big man. Church Gist. Big man that has zero in his account, that has only 50,000 that in today’s fuel would just fill the tank. That is what makes the poor, poor and the rich, rich. When a poor man gets money, he’s looking for what to buy, when a rich man gets money, he’s looking for how to multiply it more. Something is changing oh, you’re in Dunamis Business School.
– lift up your right hand, say, “I refuse to be a mismanager of resources, oh Lord, give me another chance to do it well. I receive the grace to do it well!”.
We are going to go the fourth major point. What do we do with money? What does good management entail? Church Gist. I’m talking to Kingdom people, not unbelievers, so that this is not taken out of context. I’m talking Kingdom principles.
1. Honour God first by fulfilling your covenant obligations. That is the first thing to do in management. Proverbs 3:9-10. Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first thing that enters your hands. Proverbs 11:24-25. Matthew 6:33. Genesis 14:18-20. Church Gist. The first thing Abraham did when he conquered some resources, was the tithe of all. Somebody is saying, “is that not old testament?” No. This is not law, even though it was old testament, it’s not law. It did not fall into the law of Moses, tithing came as covenant revelation to Abraham. That was why Paul the Apostle upheld in Hebrews 7:7-8. Church Gist. The first thing you do as a child of God when anything enters your hand is your tithe.
2. Maintain a reserve – don’t spend everything. In case you’re asking, “what do I do?” We would come to that shortly but you don’t spend everything. Proverbs 21:20. Church Gist. It’s only fools that spend everything. There’s always a reserve in the dwelling of the wisdom, there’s something left aside. Whether it is left aside for reinvestment or left aside for any other reason but there’s something left aside, no matter how little. Deuteronomy 28:8. The blessing of God is looking for your storehouse. I tell people, I say, “the mystery of the reserve, reserve does not mean that you have so much so you have to put something aside”. Church Gist. No. In fact, you can start when you have not much. There are many reasons for a reserve. First, it is a Faith principle that a time would come where I would have enough to put something aside. So, you’re starting now. It’s a Faith principle. Also, it is obedience of Divine commandment. Deuteronomy 28:8. Church Gist. Also, it is a strategy against wastefulness because money is wasted when it’s not given assignment. Money that is hanging anywhere is soon lost. I’m going to tell you now with what you’re going to do with what you’re putting aside. Church Gist. These are all Scriptures and Kingdom principles. When you think about government having a strategic reserve or any organization, these are all Scriptural principles. Most of the things that are successful on the earth have their roots in Scriptures because Scripture is the basis of civilization.
3. Reinvest for returns. Matthew 25:27-29. I’ll like you to note the following:
3a. Expenditure is not the purpose of money, investment is the purpose of money. You invest money and expend from dividends or profits. What I call mother money or investment. Church Gist. There are many people, like I said before, when money hits their hand, the first thing that comes to their mind is what to buy. Sometime ago, I talked on the Joseph Principle. Let me refer back to it again. So, when there was famine in the land, the people would sell their cows and give it to Joseph and Joseph would give them food to eat. Church Gist. They would sell their cows, donkeys and everything and the more they kept on getting what to eat, the more they kept on in scarcity. So, one day they all came to Joseph, Genesis 47:19-21, 23-25. All the while, they had been looking for what to eat, their scarcity continued but when Joseph eventually bought the whole land, he decided to teach them a secret. Church Gist. He said, “now, here’s seed for you. This is not expenditure money, it’s investment money. I am not going to continue giving you what to eat, I want to give you what to sow so you can have a future”. Genesis 47:23-25. That is, the returns that enter your hands, you’re not even thinking of what to buy with it, you’re still going to reinvest out of it before you think of food. Church Gist. There are people now who would say, “okay, I’ve invested. This is my return on investment, 50 million. I have been eyeing this Maybach car, let me go and buy it”. Joseph said, ” that is not wisdom. After you have paid your tithe (in our own case) and your tax as relevant, now, reinvest again from the returns”. Church Gist. So, it becomes a chain that is endless, poverty and scarcity can’t know your address. He’s saying don’t meet your needs from your seeds, meet your needs from your returns. I think you see why people are suffering and in scarcity and shortage? You see why somebody became a big man overnight and tomorrow he’s looking for money. Church Gist. You have to keep the cycle going. “Here’s seed, go and sow your land”. The harvest came, the first thing to do is not food yet, you have done your covenant obligations and other obligations, the next thing to do is reinvest and re-sow the seed, then out of the balance, you can then think of food for yourself, your household and think of any other thing. Church Gist. The reason why people are saying, “they asked me to pay tithe, I pay tithe and there’s no result” is this kind of reason. They told us how to pay the tithe but they didn’t tell us what to do with the money and many people don’t have the wisdom on their own to know what to do, so they say, “I am tithing, I am giving, nothing is happening” and God is saying, “my blessing is looking for your storehouse and I don’t bless bad managers, I bless good managers”.
Anybody putting your life under pressure to be spending raw money on them is not doing you the best. Church Gist. I believe so much in charity but see where it is there, out of your investment and returns, you can meet the needs of billions if you want, which must be done.
– under the next six months, I see people shifting into 6-9 figure incomes!
3b. Investment is the security of the future. Anybody who does not consciously invest and reinvest as necessary has no secured future. Church Gist. There may be money today but tomorrow cannot be guaranteed. Genesis 26:12. While people were looking for what to buy and eat, Isaac was looking for what to sow and invest and the outcome of that was that the Philistines envied him. Genesis 26:12-14.
4. Impact in your field or business endeavour must be placed above comfort. That is Scripture. Proverbs 24:27. Whatever you’re doing with your life, succeed with it well first before you think about your comfort. Proverbs 24:27 (TLB and NIV). Church Gist. What is the meaning of that?
4a. Investment is superior to enjoyment. What you wear or drive and where you live are not as important as your impact on ground.
4b. Impact, more than intake guarantees income. There are people, all the money they have in this world is on their body and their car.
I told you the story before, I went to dedicate a man’s estate, highrise, big houses in this city and after I prayed on it, I said to him, “so, where’s your own house?” I was expecting to hear he was living in Asokoro or Aso drive or Maitama or the highbrow areas in town. Church Gist. He said he’s living in a rented 2-bedroom apartment in Karu where he was paying 120,000 naira per annum. “You mean I came to an estate in multiple millions and you’re living in that place?” He said, yes that it is more profitable for him now that he would build his house later. That exemplifies this Scripture. He was not in a hurry to be big. Church Gist. I will talk about that shortly. Paying rent there would give him enough money to continue building this building instead of living in a house of 10 million in Maitama and 20 million for two years. I’m sure he saw that that could build him a flat at that time. This is how those who succeed, succeed. Somebody is living in Maitama, highbrow areas and he’s struggling to pay house rent, saying, “that is where I belong”. You’re doing ‘guy’ with empty pocket. Church Gist. I don’t understand the mentality of some people. Saying, “you know what, I can’t live in Garki. There are only two places I can live in Abuja here. See that Asokoro, close to Aso drive or Maitama. If you’re talking of Lugbe, me, Lugbe? Do I look like somebody that can live in Lugbe?” That’s peacockish arrogance that has attracted chronic poverty. Church Gist. He’s struggling to pay house rent there, your mentality should tell you that you don’t belong there. When you correct your mentality, you can connect your prosperity. Because the prodigal son came to his senses, that was what ushered him into the realm of his results. Supply answers to sense. Wealth answers to wisdom. Am I communicating at all?
It is important to buy that big car but if that big car can produce more money for now, direct it there so that a time can come when the money you’re making can buy 10 of those kinds of cars if you want.
5. Be charitable – remember the poor and the needy. That is, out of all the money you have made, you have invested, reinvested, of course, remembering the poor is part of covenant obligation, for your information. Church Gist. Be charitable. Please note this: Genesis 12:2-3.
5a. The major reason why God blessed people is to make them blessings to their generation. If you will not be a blessing, don’t expect to be blessed. There should be somebody somewhere that is blessed because you’re blessed. Church Gist. There should be somebody somewhere raised and lifted because you have been raised and lifted.
5b. To give to the poor is to lend to the Lord and God cannot owe anybody, he pays with interest. Proverbs 19:17 (MSG). That was the reason for the greatness of Job. Job 29:11-16. Look at Solomon in Psalm 72:11-14. Church Gist. Giving to the poor is a loan to God. We saw the greatness of Abraham in Genesis 14:14. Now, you know that most of the ancient rich people, they understood, that is the basis of the Foundations and Charity organizations. As a medical student, I was aware of the Rockefeller Foundation that was handling things like river blindness, vesicovaginal fistula and all those kinds of things. Church Gist. John D. Rockefeller is gone, longest time but charity from that organization is still on today. At the age of around 53, he had a terminal disease like cancer, he sent for all of his resources and distributed it – to God, to needy people. The outcome is he outlived that terminal disease and lived to the age of 97. Today, when somebody says, “I have an NGO or a foundation” some people not majority, it means, “I have registered something to collect free money so I can use buy 4-wheel drive and build houses” and the poor and the needy that those funds are dedicated to would never see any dime from that fund and many people think that God is not watching. Church Gist. A great percentage of so-called NGOs are platforms for duping and collecting money from international donors and then refusing to give to those who need them. Out of money that is meant to be spent on the poor, you say you brought tithe out of it. If you brought the tithe of your own earning, legitimate earning because you’re entitled to earn, it’s alright. Church Gist. But you’re saying, “they have just sent me one million dollars, I run an NGO for the vulnerable women” and those people don’t see 10,000 dollars out of that one million dollars. That is cursed money.
Now, this can be a vision, a vision for getting money, “Lord, I want to help the poor massively. Lord, I need millions in dollars. Legitimate, my own. Church Gist. I want to relieve poverty from my community and my village. I need the money in millions” and God would give it to you. Don’t misunderstand me, if that is your kind of work and money is coming to you and you’re using it for the purpose for which it is coming, excellent, perfect, accurate. Church Gist. But if it is otherwise. “Let them send me money so I can use on myself and then show people that I am now big”. No. That is not accurate.
Now, Money traps to avoid, problems with money.
1. Be diligent but never be in a hurry. Never be in a haste to be rich. Proverbs 28:20. Anyone who is in a haste to make it cannot be innocent. Church Gist. He would do something wrong along the line. What kind of things may happen? First would be traps of deceptive investment. “Give me 100,000 naira, I will be paying you 40,000 every month”. “40 whole thousand?” The first month you got, second month you got, that is 80,000 remaining 20,000 out of what you gave. Third month, story, meanwhile you have tied your life to that 100,000. You’re in a hurry. Church Gist. Any return on investment that appears too juicy to be true is likely not true. A gain that is appearing too unbelievable is unlikely unrealistic.
Another thing that would be a challenge of haste to be rich is stepping into crime and fraud knowingly and unknowingly. You’re just initiated into fraud and crime because you want to make it fast. Church Gist. Fast deals atimes can lead to fast death. It has led to many. I know of a young man, I knew him in the university days, all of a sudden, many cars and everything. I heard the story that one day, he came out of his car and was walking and some people came across him and said, “who did you deal with like that?” Shot him and drove off. He had massively duped some people who tracked him and deleted him from the land of the living. Church Gist. Fast deals that lead to fast deaths. Proverbs 28:20. Be very diligent and dutiful and you would be rich, legitimately. But just overnight like that, something is wrong.
I know of people who have been expecting some unrealistic money for 20 years, all manner of stories. Church Gist. The time they should have used to pursue legitimate means of resources, they are waiting for ethereal and non-existent money. Don’t be in a hurry.
2. Don’t bite more than you can chew. What’s the meaning of that? Don’t take up more business and money pursuits or responsibilities that are beyond both your management and manpower capacity. Church Gist. You’re pursuing money here and there, you don’t have enough wisdom and management to harness them. You don’t have enough human resources to coordinate them, yet you’re everywhere. Proverbs 4:24-26. That is, function with focus. Functioning with focus is the key to financial future. Church Gist. I will like you to note this down, this is a quotable quote from me by His grace, “Pursue only that which you know you can pursue with focus and deliver with excellence”. What is it that you can pursue with focus and deliver with excellence, that is what to pursue. Whether it is a financial venture, ministry venture, whatever it is. Church Gist. So many people pursuing so many things and deliver everything shabbily.
Another quotable quote; “To be drawn in too many directions is to be drawn into exhaustion, frustration and stagnation”. It’s a money trap. Church Gist. When you want to make money here, make money there, pursue this one, pursue that one.
The final one is, “To pursue too many things all at once is to end with nothing at the end”. This is very critical. Don’t tell me that I’m asking you to just face only one thing for life. Church Gist. There are people who have some grace to multitask and even in multitasking, you don’t take more task than your ability can carry. Perfect one, then move to the next or perfect 2 or 3 that you can handle at once together without breaking down, then move to the next. That is a money trap that we must not fall into.
3. Don’t be in a hurry to show up. That is a trap that people fall into. Proverbs 24:27. Don’t be in a hurry to prove that you have arrived. Don’t be in a hurry, you have nothing to prove. Church Gist. You want to show your friends that you’re not suffering, no need for now, the time would come when they would see it. Don’t be in a hurry to unveil your true capacity. It’s not wisdom to unveil your whole capacity. It’s not good for the whole world to know what you’re worth all at once except you have come to a point where your worth is worthy of note globally. Church Gist. Like you cannot hide from Forbes what your worth is, maybe. Let there be more to you and your capacity per time than people know. In fact, it can help you to reduce envy, enmity and hostility and in the village, local witchcraft. Church Gist. Even though they won’t do you nothing but don’t use your energy to be fighting witches and wizards.
– look at your neighbour, say, “don’t be in a hurry to show up, it’s a trap”.
Let people not see you coming until you explode. They were not prepared for what they are seeing. When you had a million dollars and ten million dollars, they thought you had nothing. Church Gist. When you had finished an estate, they are not aware yet. Nothing prepared them for your appearance. There are some people so nicely dressed, if they are going on the road and by mistake, a young girl that is hawking groundnut, if they pour everything away, they don’t even have money to pay for it.
– look at your neighbour, say, “I am coming. Nothing prepared for what you’re going to see from my life”.
Just calm down, give yourself a target. Before anybody knows that I have one naira, let there be at least a million dollars in the account. The things you’re hurrying to get, relax, they will hurry to look for you. Church Gist. A time would come, people would give you a gift that you don’t need your money to buy just as an appreciation.
– I see something happening to somebody here.
4. Don’t lose your humility to prosperity. It’s a money trap. Don’t let money usher you into the realm of pride and arrogance. Proverbs 18:23. Don’t lose your humanness to money. You’re human and you’re humane, don’t lose it to money. Church Gist. Don’t lose your value for people, don’t lose your love and respect for people because you have money, it’s an error. These people were made in the image of God and God can judge you for doing that. Some people get rich and take everybody for granted, they are talking to their father on their seats. Church Gist. Their mother, they are shouting on her on the phone. Wife? That is, “go, my friend!” especially if he had the money before he married you. Siblings? “Who do you think you are?” Take people for granted, speak roughly to people, treat people shabbily because of money. It works against the people in time to come. Church Gist. You can be a multi billionaire and it cannot be detected because of your humility. You’re still standing as an usher in Church, still talking courteously to people, still bowing and respecting those you need to bow and respect.
Somebody sent me a group of pictures yesterday, pictures of myself and God’s servant, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi and then Dr. Morris Cerrulo, Daddy G.O. and all of them. Church Gist. Any posture I took in those pictures, it was not premeditated. It just came from the inside. It was natural. I can’t see myself speaking with any of those people with chest out. Senior in age, senior in spiritual journey and all realms. And even if you think, “we built a big Church. Church Gist. We built this and that”, what do you have that you have not received? There’s nothing anybody or became that it was not God who made him.
When you come to the point in your life when your head is too big for your body, a collapse is inevitable. Don’t lose your humility.
5. Don’t lose your spirituality to money. Don’t allow money to interfere with your relationship with God. Matthew 6:24. You know, there are some people, before they got money, they were in Church, even when there’s no service. Church Gist. They are in Church, after service has close, they won’t go. That is good practice. The only thing is, let that continue after money arrives. But after a while, “well, I have a business appointment in the UK” and the only time they know to fly is Sunday morning. Fasting has disappeared, prayer has disappeared, evangelism, to who? Evangelism is over, house fellowship, no way. Midweek service? Forget. If anybody calls him, “yes?” “We didn’t see you in Church midweek”. “Yes, that is true”. Church Gist. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world. Where are you going with yeye money? How much of that money would they bury with you when you die? I’ve seen many people. But I have also seen billionaires addicted to God. They have not shifted from their duty post as an usher or protocol. Church Gist. This crusade we are going now, there are people who have paid their way all the way to Houston. You know airfare now is in millions. Church Gist. Any money that would make you reduce your spiritual fire, let that money go to hell and any money that would take you to hell, may it never enter your hands.
Some people would say, “are you a prosperity Preacher?” My own is different, that is, “you can make money, come and make money and become rich and wealthy”, I don’t preach that kind of “become wealthy” without responsibility, character and spirituality.
– somebody say Amen.
1 Timothy 6:10-11. Matthew 19:23-24. Job 1:1-3. Luke 16:22. So, it is up to you. Church Gist. Whether you want to be rich and make it like Abraham or Job or you want to be the rich man that suffered Lazarus until Lazarus died of hunger and he found himself in hell. It is a matter of choice.
6. Don’t lose your name to money. Proverbs 22:1. Ecclesiastes 7:1a. Listen, a good name is worth more than billions.
6a. Your character is superior to certificate.
6b. Your character is superior to your connections.
6c. It doesn’t matter what you have today, if your name is not good, your future is not great.
The question is, when your name is mentioned, what occurs to people? what is it that comes to mind? Church Gist. I heard of a man, somebody was commenting on him and said, “there was nobody that man has ever done business with that did not complain. There was money in-between them”. What a name!
You’re a business man, when people mention your name, what is it that comes to mind? “He’s a crook, he’s a liar, he doesn’t keep promises, he’s a cheat, he’s a fraud; He’s not a bad person but be careful. Deal with him carefully, just make sure you write down all agreements”. Church Gist. And there are people that they would say, “If that is the man that you’re going to deal with, go to sleep”. Don’t waste your life. If your name is not good, your future can’t be great, no matter how talented and gifted you are. No matter the grade of your certificate. Church Gist. The level of your character is superior to the grade of your certificate, whether it is First Class grade.
Please, value your name. Avoid crooked and fraudulent operations.
7. Avoid the trap of indebtedness. Including oppression of hired servants. Romans 13:8. Don’t owe anybody anything, the only debt you’re permitted to owe is the debt of love. Proverbs 22:7. Indebtedness is an attack on your financial future. Church Gist. It is spending the money that is yet to enter your hands. It is finishing the future today. It establishes you in the status of a servant. It is an anti-covenant operation. It is raking your own welfare in your hands and taking it out of the hands of God. I told you the story of a billionaire, we sat together, he came to see me and he said, “please, tell the brethren that they should run from debt”. He was worth 1.04 billion or so in dollars. Church Gist. That was his worth before bank gave him facility, as it is called to facilitate him. That facility almost became a prison facility. It was difficult for him to get out. Church Gist. By the time he has finished his money, he has not finished the debt. If it is avoidable, avoid it.
Do you know the worst form of debt? Not the one you owe the bank, it is the one you owe hired servants – employees, labourers, those who can’t fight you and have no choice. Church Gist. How somebody can be living his life, month has passed, employees are not paid, 2-3 months and he’s moving, I don’t understand. Oppression. There’s nothing God hates like somebody worked for you, supplied something for you, whatever it is and you’re now, big man, you’re shouting and screaming. James 5:1-4. Church Gist. It says, “you’re not playing with those people, you’re playing with God. You’re not messing up with those, you’re messing up with God”. That is why some people can never have a future. Driver is crying, cook is crying, security is crying, supplier of dress. She’s already wearing the dress but she’s owing. Church Gist. He’s already driving the car but he’s owing. What kind of useless dress and car is that?
Please, I want you to have zero degree allowance for debt. Don’t enjoy it. Don’t like it. Don’t thrive in it. It is not a way, it’s anti-covenant. Church Gist. Any service you can’t pay for, do it yourself. If you can’t pay for a driver, drive yourself. If you can’t pay for a caterer, cook your food. You can’t pay a tailor, tailor your cloth. What kind of yeye big man? You can’t lay the person ironing your clothes, iron it yourself. Church Gist. It means you’re not ready for that kind of life. There are some people, they even have the money but there’s a demon that says, “don’t pay”. You’re working against God and His principles and you want God to bless you, is that possible?
– it’s a new day for somebody.
Problems among brethren, “he borrowed money from me, I borrowed money from him”. Somebody is coming to your house and office 10-20 times asking for the same money and you’re not ashamed. Church Gist. What kind of big man is also a debtor at the same time? Big debtor. There are some in this country, big but massive debt – other people’s money.
I want you, anything you learnt from this message, share it with any other person. Pick the message, pick the CD, let our nation hear this, let it correct people’s minds. Church Gist. For the man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he has. We met nothing in this world, we take nothing out. Let’s live decently financially. Have all the money you want, but let it be correct and accurate.
– I believe that the Lord will help us in the name of Jesus!
If you’re owing anybody money now, and you’re hearing the sound of my voice, first thing to do is to meet the person and say, “I am sorry for holding what is yours for this length of time. Pardon me and give me time”. Church Gist. Then, you put yourself under pressure for the return of it. Don’t shine with people’s money. You borrowed to drive, you borrowed to wear. Don’t shine with people’s money. God will give you legitimate money and you will shine with your money.
#DrPaulEnenche
#DrBeckyEnenche
#TheGloryIsRisen
#LightHasCome
#DIGC
#SupersonicSunday
#GloryDome
#2ndJuly2023
#ChurchGist
