Today, the Church of GOD has grown weak! I remember one day, when I was in Sibut (about 185 kilometers from Bangui), someone stole the offerings from a church. The Pastor of that church felt compelled to bring in a fortune teller to tell them who had stolen the offerings. Is this how we should act when we have The Almighty GOD with us?

Another example: In the past, I used to prepare a radio show in a recording studio called “Studio Vitamine.” Someone had stolen the equipment from that studio, and I was called in to pray. After I prayed, the thieves themselves brought the stolen equipment back to the studio! That is the Power of GOD!

Unfortunately, today we see that the Power of GOD is no longer manifested—or only very rarely—in the lives of Christians! Even those who pray are not protected by GOD! Some of them draw their strength from the wicked! That is why many pagans mock the churches and the children of GOD!

Remember Peter and Simon the magician (Acts 8:9-25)! After believing in CHRIST and being baptized, this man wanted to buy the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT from Peter and John. But Peter set the record straight by telling Simon to repent and turn to CHRIST.

On the other hand, today, some of those who attend church also visit witch doctors to obtain powers such as the power of healing, etc. This goes against what the Bible teaches us! In other cases, people buy salt or oil to wash themselves with in order to obtain certain favors!

Yet, when you examine what JESUS CHRIST did or what the children of Israel did in obedience to the LORD, no one ever washed anyone with salt or oil! It was the Power of GOD at work! And it was that same Power that stopped the bleeding suffered by the woman mentioned in Matthew 9:20-22, after she touched the Garment of JESUS CHRIST!

The Power of GOD is very real. Hebrews 13:8 declares that “Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever”! So why should it be any different today? No!

When I was still new to the Ministry, I witnessed firsthand how people prayed for a deceased person, and then that person came back to life right before my eyes! I, too, have prayed for two deceased people, and GOD raised them from the dead!

Unfortunately, today we don’t experience the Power of GOD enough. This is because of sin. People no longer show GOD’s Love, and everyone does as they please. The Church is now being used to make money and live in luxury.

Remember Elisha, who refused Na’aman’s gift because he knew very well that it was the LORD who had performed the Miracle (2 Kings 5:15–16).

But today, everything is mixed up: malice, slander, and so on. If your brother has a grudge against you, he’ll use your name to slander you and say all sorts of things about you! Because of this kind of behavior, the Power of GOD is no longer truly at work among us!

In contrast, the people of Israel clung to GOD’s Promises. When they marched with the Ark of the LORD, they knew they would be victorious over their enemies.

1 Samuel 4 tells us how the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines during their battle against the people of Israel. Then, in 1 Samuel 5, we read that the Philistines brought the Ark into the temple of their god, whose name was Dagon. And Dagon was the father of Baal. The Philistines gave glory to their god, saying that it was this god who had given them victory over the people of Israel and who had also been victorious over the GOD of Israel! But GOD is GOD. GOD does not glorify Himself to honor anyone. He acts for His own Glory! If we give ourselves over to sin, GOD will always remain GOD!

Thus, we read in 1 Samuel 5 that the Philistines placed the Ark of the Covenant before their god Dagon. The next day, they found Dagon lying on the ground (verse 3). But who had toppled Dagon? It was the Power of GOD! GOD’s people were put to shame, but GOD glorified Himself and brought Dagon down!

Do you think that if you say others are wicked, if you don’t love one another, if you take pleasure in remaining in sin, you’re going to hurt GOD? No, you’re hurting yourselves! You’re not hurting GOD! Even if we didn’t exist, GOD would still be GOD! Whether we pray to Him or not, whether we serve Him or not, He is and remains GOD! If GOD asks you to give up sin, it’s for your own good! On the day you die because of your sins, will GOD die with you? No!

Remember those who sinned against the LORD by worshiping a golden calf in the wilderness during Moses’ time. GOD told Moses that He was going to destroy them all (Exodus 32)!

Let’s return to the story of the Ark and Dagon. So the Ark had toppled Dagon, and the Philistines “took Dagon and put him in his place again” (1 Samuel 5:3). The next day, when they returned to Dagon’s house, they found Dagon lying on the ground again in front of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 5:4). Because of this, the Philistine rulers said that the Ark of the Covenant could not remain with them, for GOD had struck them with tumors (verses 6–8)! Their entire territory!

You know, the Name of GOD and the Knowledge of GOD are powerful tools for turning away from sin. GOD has made a covenant with you so that you may turn away from sin. He will not be a part of the sins of the wicked!

My Brother, my Sister, know this: if you are in GOD’s Presence, the wicked will not love you. This is because of the Ark of the Covenant that you carry within you. For your presence—which is the Presence of the LORD—will bring misfortune upon them…

After the princes made their decision, the Ark of the Covenant was taken to Gat, but this only brought misfortune (1 Samuel 5:8–9). They then took the Ark to ‘Ekron, but when the Ekronites saw the Ark, they began to cry out (verse 10)! So the Philistines decided to send the Ark of the LORD back to Israel (verse 11), to Beit-Shemesh, but with offerings (1 Samuel 6:1-18). It was only after that that the calamity departed from the Philistines. Because it was the Presence of GOD that had been the cause of their misfortunes…

However, the people of Beit-Shemesh were also struck by disaster because of the Ark. The LORD had made it clear that the Ark was not to be touched by just anyone in any way. The Book of Numbers, chapter 4, verse 15 tells us:

“When Aharon and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy utensils, when the camp is about to move forward, then the descendants of K’hat are to come and carry them. But they are not to touch the holy things, so that they won’t die. These things are the responsibility of the descendants of K’hat in the tent of meeting.”

GOD had made it clear that no one was to touch the Ark with their hands. That is why the bearers had to carry the Ark using poles placed on their shoulders (1 Chronicles 15:15). Because of the Glory of GOD! Because they respected and honored GOD!

But you don’t respect or honor GOD in your actions… You work for GOD, but without any concern!

2 Samuel 6 tells us how GOD struck ‘Uzah dead for touching the Ark because the oxen carrying it “stumbled” (verse 6) …

Furthermore, everything that belongs to GOD must be covered. Not everyone needs to see what belongs to GOD! But you—if your Sister or Brother has sinned—you go and broadcast it to the world so that all the pagans will know… No, it must not be so. Numbers 4:15 clearly tells us this: “When Aharon and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy utensils”! To cover here means to protect! But we do not protect our Brothers and Sisters in order to present them to the LORD… On the contrary, it is rather we who expose them to harm them.

So, the Ark of the LORD had to be covered so that no one would know what was inside. And the Ark was carried on the shoulders using poles. The Ark was heavy and weighed heavily on the shoulders of the bearers. It was a burden for them, and it was GOD who had told them to take on this burden. Has GOD entrusted you with something for Him today? Do you feel the weight of GOD’s Work upon you?

GOD wants you to take on the responsibility of His Work and remain covered. If you are in this situation, He will protect you. Remember Adam and Eve: They were not covered, and GOD covered them (Genesis 3:21)…

In conclusion, let us read Numbers 7:9: “But to the descendants of K’hat he gave none, because their duties involved the holy articles, which they carried on their own shoulders”. As we have seen recently, what pertains to GOD includes gold, bronze, silver, oil, etc. (Exodus 25). And only the Levites were permitted to carry the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders.

So, my Brother, my Sister, are you bearing the weight of GOD’s Work? Have you taken on the responsibility of GOD’s Work? Are you bearing that burden? And are you still protected? If you do so, as one anointed by GOD, know that GOD says this about you: “Don’t touch my anointed ones or do my prophets harm” (Psalms 105:15)!

Receive this Word in the Name of YAHSHUA.

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