Sermon Delivered by the General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion at the Adult Harvest of St Philip’s Church, Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Sunday, November 5, 2023 Theme: Harvest of Exceptional Exaltation: The Reward and Blessing of Giving .
Text: Philippians 2:5-11 & Malachi 3:10-12
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Introduction
“Wealth exalts in human society. Money brings respect in traditional conservative societies “– okwuoto ekene eze.
The reality is, the more money one has, the more he is exalted in the society. As a matter of fact, one would not be wrong to say that greed exalts in many quarters in our society today. This fact has led to the initiation of young men and women into all kinds of evil and fetish practices – yahoo plus, kidnapping, etc. The society is corrupt with all kinds of money worship, but God’s children must not forget the words of Jesus that says, “no one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24).
Chorus:
I am going higher yes higher,
I am going higher today
I am going above the shadows,
Into the presence of God,
Into the presence of Jesus
I am going higher today!
Exaltation by Giving
In Philippians 2:5-11 Apostle Paul opens us to a different order of exaltation, that which comes not through gathering but emptying – giving. According to Apostle Paul, the more one gives, the more he is exalted. The Greek word for all that Apostle Paul presented in Philippians 2:6-8 concerning Jesus is kenosis. Jesus emptied himself of all His rights as God and that brought about His exceptional exaltation. This is the place of humility that God tells us clearly that exaltation lies therein (Luke 14:11; Jas 4:6, 10). He did not only give His rights, but His life for our sakes that we might escaped the wrath of God against sin. What a gift?
What will be the monetary value of such a gift? Illustration: A man who was told how much oxygen cost per day lamented on how God gives it freely. Yes, God gave it freely! Jesus gave freely! This is opposed to the exaltation that some of us are seeking, which is based on receiving, taking, grabbing, stealing, embezzling, etc. Jesus emptied Himself and gave all for us, and God exalted Him exceptionally.
Invitation for Exceptional Exaltation! The word exceptional stands for unusual, uncommon, unprecedented, etc. It means the happening of what has not happened before. It is the happening that came pleasantly unexpected. It is when all protocols instead of being observed are suspended to bring about a blessing. Psalm 75:6-7 says, “for exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” It is that which makes Nigerians shout out saying “Na God!,” “Baba God Noni!,” and the AYF shouts “who did this thing? Jesus! Oh my God!” Jesus is here to grant exceptional exaltation to His children at this Harvest of Exceptional Exaltation. As they say, “follow who know road [way],” but I say, do not just follow who knows the road, but is the road and has gone through the road and is ever ready to take you through that road of exceptional exaltation – follow Jesus by emptying yourself. God rewards and blesses those who give willingly (Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35). Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Malachi 3:10 presents in clear terms how giving exalts when it says “and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (cf Luke 12:13-21). As we give we must always remember that the earth and all that is in it including the people and the cattle belong to God (Psa. 24:1; 50:9-12). Like David we must give God with clear understanding that all belongs to Him (1 Chron. 29:11-12).
God is not a Scammer! Premium Times News online report by Oladeinde Olawoyin, dated March 2, 2017 has it that 3 million Nigerians lost N18 billion to MMM (MavrodiMundial Movement, ponzi scheme)- they were scammed. The Hausa song said “Dole ne mu ba wa shaitan, in ba za mu ba wa Allah ba“ [Surely we will give Satan if we chose to not give it to God] (see Luke 12:16-21). This is why Jesus counselled saying, And He said to them, “take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15) and 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19). God is not a scammer, He is not a fraudster, He is not yahoo plus god, etc. When God places a demand on anyone – his talent, time, treasure, life, etc – He blesses and rewards accordingly. Hebrews 6:10 says, “for God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Like the catapult and the bow and arrow, the seeming pullback when you give to God’s cause is not a disadvantage, but grace. Like the stone and arrow in the catapult and bow respectively, God is launching you far into exceptional exaltation as you commit humbly to Him in this harvest.
Conclusion
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Cor. 9:6-8).
God bless you now and always.
The Ven. Gershinen Paul Dajur, PhD
General Secretary, Church of Nigeria
St Matthias House,
The National Secretariat of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
Zone B01, CAD, Plot 942, Ibrahim Waziri Crescent, Gudu District
- O. Box 212, ADCP,
Garki Abuja
+2347067676245;
+2347014023800
“I need no other argument, I need no other plea; it is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me” (Eliza E. Hewitt).
