Bribery And Corruption Are Not For True Christian

TOPIC: BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION ARE NOT FOR TRUE CHRISTIAN.


PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to be contented with what you have given me.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Samuel 12:1-5 
And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and gray headed; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

Amos 5:12 
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

Genesis 6:11-13 
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

INTRODUCTION: Bribery is the act of giving money or something valuable to somebody to persuade him/her to help and in most cases to act dishonestly. It involves two parties: the giver and receiver. God's law given to Moses for the people of Israel in Exodus 23:8 forbade the taking of a bribe. The same rule is repeated in Deut. 16:19

MEMORY VERSE: But Samuel’s sons did not live the same way he did. Joel and Abijah accepted bribes. They took money secretly and changed their decisions in court. They cheated people in court. 1 Samuel 8:3

TEXT REVIEW: 1 Samuel 12:1-15, Amos 5:12, Gen 6:11-13
i. True believers do not engage in bribery and corrupt act.
ii. Believers that are accountable unto God don't engage even when other believers seem to be found in the act.
iii. God and men should be able to attest to unruly act of bribery and corruption.
iv. It should not be heard among us.
v. Nothing is hidden from the Almighty God and no one found in such act will go unpunished on the Day of judgement

LESSON OUTLINE
Why people pay bribe
1. To have to keep a job/contract.
2. To cover mistakes or problems.
3. To avoid waiting or to jump the queue.
4. To have favourable results such as in exams, office promotion, sports, competitions, court cases, or other competitive exercises
5. Because it is a way of life or has become habitual to some people whose slogan is "if you can't beat them, join them"

What Does The Bible Say About Bribery- (Giving Or Receiving Bribe) and Corruption
•Exodus 23:8  And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
• 1 Samuel 8:3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
• Deuteronomy 16:19  Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
• Proverbs 29:4  The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
• Amos 5:12  For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
• Psalms 15:5  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
• Proverbs 15:27  He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
• Deuteronomy 27:25  Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

SUMMARY: Bribery and Corruption is against God's will for is and it should not be found in heavenly focused minded Christians.

CONCLUSION: How many Christians can face their congregation and challenge them to indict him/her on bribery and corruption as Samuel did before the whole nation of Israel? Yet he was cleared; (1 Samuel 12:3-4).


PRAYER POINTS:
1. Thank God for this wonderful message.
2. Father, please take away everything that will make me to miss heaven in Jesus' name.
3. Father, the grace not to fail You, release upon me and my house hold in Jesus' name.