DON’T TREAT DEDICATED THINGS WITH DISRESPECT

DON’T TREAT DEDICATED THINGS WITH DISRESPECT

Text: Daniel 5:1-5, 24-31
Memory verse:
“If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭‬‬

Many Christians don’t really understand the spiritual implications of dedicating a person or a thing. And you know that abuse is inevitable if you don’t know the purpose of a thing. He personally takes responsibility for defending whatever has been dedicated to Him. Withdrawing what has already been wholly dedicated to God for unholy things also comes with grave consequences.
According to our text today, King Belshazzar attracted the wrath of the Almighty God when he decided to turn the gold and silver vessels that had been dedicated to the Lord for unholy uses He got to the peak of his disrespect for God when he, his wives, and concubines turned what was meant for the praise of God to praise their idols. “Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his Lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.” ‭‭(Daniel‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬). That same night, God brought his reign to an end, and he was slain. Those who steal church properties or who turn things dedicated to the Lord in the sanctuary for social uses are endangering their lives and families. Likewise, God’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and their neighbours with tumors when they captured the Ark of the presence of the Lord and housed it (1 Sam 5:6).
When Samson forgot his consecration and started defiling his body with sexual sin and touching unholy things, God withdrew from him, and he ended in shame. The champion became a clown, and the deliverer became a captive! God has vowed to personally destroy anyone who defiles his or her body, which is holy (1 Cor 3:16-17).
Friends, it is dangerous both for the one who dedicated and the person who was dedicated to turn what has been given to the Lord for unholy uses. May you not do anything that will attract God’s wrath on you and your family in Jesus’s name.
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Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me to always respect You and to treat dedicated things as holy unto You in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please help me never to defile my body nor do anything that can attract Your wrath to me or my family in Jesus’s name.

Today’s declarations
1. I respect God by treating church properties and any dedicated thing with utmost honour.
2. My body is God’s temple and His possession, so I keep it in sanctification and honour.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng