Topic: Strangers in the Sanctuary
Text: Jeremiah 51:51, Lamentations 5:2
Preacher: Pastor Belemina Obunge

Jeremiah 51:51
We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.

When we talk about stangers, we are talking about whatever God doesn’t want to come into the sanctuary. What then is the sanctuary? Your body is to be a sanctuary, your home is to be a sanctuary, your business is to be a sanctuary. Eccl. 6:2 “A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.” When a stranger comes into your home and takes away the blessings of God upon your life, scriptures says – it is an evil disease.

We would be looking at “strangers in the sanctuary”. What do these strangers do? psalm 54:3 “For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah”. I pray that every evil stranger that has access to your destiny and life will give way by the fire of God in Jesus name.

We are people that must have authority. We are God’s house, we are a sanctuary. I’ve seen people that are born again, spirit-filled, tounge talking and demon chasing, but one stranger called sickness comes in to devour their joy. I’ve seen families that should be testifying and one stranger comes and bring havoc to their children.

Don’t forget that you body is the sanctuary of the most high. 1 Cor. 6:19-20. but strangers comes through sensitive directions, they come to defile your dominion; they come to destroy your destiny. The way God sees this stranger is such that those which He has not deposited in your and family. John 10:4-5 “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”. When people come with deceptive strategies, when people come to mess up ther life and children; the Lord says a stranger has set in. Proverbs 5:7-10 says – this strangers eat the wealth of his children. and verse 10 says let strangers be filled with thy wrath.

THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT STRANGERS

• Strangers should not be followed John 10:4-5
• Strangers should not be promoted. Joel 3:17
• Strangers devour your strength. Hosea 7:9
• Strangers bring men into captivity Obadiah 1:11
• Strangers should not be served. Jeremiah 30:8

WWHAT ARE THESE STRANGERS?
i. Whatever has taken the place of God in your life (Strange God). Deut. 6:5 some examples of Strange Gods are: Football, Phone, Clothes, one’s Job. Gen. 35:1-2

ii. Strange Incense. Exodus 30:7 “”. Incense is symbolic for worship, verse 9 says, he shall offer no strange incense to God. This means, it is possible for one to offer strange worship to God. Lev. 10:1-2. Nadab and Abihu made strange incense and God consumed them with strange fire

iii. Strange Relationship. 1 Kings 11:1-4. Solomon loved strange women and they took his heart away from God. It is possible that you are in a relationship with someone that is taking you away from God. It is called strange relationhip. 1 Kings 11:11

iv. Strange Land. Psalm 137:3-4. A strange land is any place God has told you not to go and you went; it is that business that God has told you not to do and you did it, as so on. A strange land puts you in bondage. Acts 7:6 “And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years”. When ever you make a move without direction from God, you will eventually find yourself in a strange land. Your Location determines your blessing.

v. Strange seeds. Jer. 2:21, Isaiah 17:10-11. A strange seed is any trait in your life that doesn’t gorify God; seed of bitterness, seed of sin, etc. “while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares”. Whatever it is in your life, that doesn’t glorify God, is a strange seed that the devil has planted to remove the beauty of God’s glory in your life.

The time to deal with strangers is not tomorrow, the time is now.

Prayer Point:

• My Father, my Father, every stranger, operating in my life, I reject in the name of Jesus.
• Lord, I shall not be a victim to strangers in the name of Jesus
• Oh Lord, whatever in my Life that does not gloify you, take it away in Jesus name.