The Evil Of Gambling by Rev'd Adeola Akanbi

Amen, Father, we thank you. We give you all the praise.

We're grateful for these various damasions that you speak to

us day by day. Lord, we ask that these words

will not be against us on the day of judgment.

Apple's Lord, where we are weak, that you renew our

strength to be strong in Jesus' name, that our understanding

of your word will be deeper and deeper to bring

about your praise. In Jesus' name, Lord, we ask again

that you will open our hearts beyond the letters, that

your word will come strong in our hearts, and there

will be a better life for us.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

There's a young teacher that the story was told to me.

This teacher was teaching in a in the secondary school.

This teacher is very very good in mathematics. This teacher

is very good in mathematics. But something happened to this man.

By every qualification, by every standard, because of his ability

to do mathematics, he was organizing extra mora classes and

this is what we call lesson. He was doing it

for children. So apart from what is being paid in

the school as a teacher, he's also getting money from

the lesson that he's doing. It's what is doing good

or bad? Church is what is doing good or bad?

Is good? Right? Is good? For something happened to this man.

Even people that are not as old or who are

far younger than him, some of them have schools of

their own in that community. But this man cannot even

make any progress to have his school by himself.

But what exactly was his problem?

The challenge was that every couple that this man makes,

Every that this man makes goes somewhere and where does

he go? Bye bye jebble. Every couple that this man makes,

he goes to play bets. Very brilliant man. He was

the best mathematics teacher. It was my wife's teacher in

secondary school. It was it was it was.

Excellent sound mathematics teacher.

But the bots in his life was that every couple

that he had, he was always putting it.

In betting, betting, betting. Yeah, is the man still alive?

Is no longer a life? He died miserable Richard. He

died miserable at Richard.

This morning Church.

I want to talk to us on the evil of gambling.

I know there are gamblasts in this church.

I know.

I know there are women gam blasts among our mothers.

In this church. I know.

I have the information. I know there are men gad

blasts in this church. But you know what the Bible

says in the Book of Ezekiel. The Book of Ezekiel says,

if I see a man in his wrongdoing, my responsibility

is to tell that man that what you're doing is wrong.

Change because if I don't do that, the blood of

that person will be required from my hand.

But if I take this step to tell that man, hey,

what you're doing is wrong, Please change your way, and

the man refuses to change the way, the blood of

that person is no longer on me, but as returned

to that person. Look at what the Bible says in

the Book of First Timothy, chapter six nine and ten.

I'll just speak from these two verses this morning. First Timothy,

chapter six nine and ten. First Timothy, chapter six nine

and ten. This is instruction of Paul to Timothy and

his writing. I'll read from the New Living, New International Version.

And those who want to get rich fall into temptation

and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires

that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money.

Is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people

eager for money have wondered even from the faith and

pierced themselves with many griefs. New living translation renders in

this way. But people who long to be rich fall

into many into temptation and are trapped by many foolish

and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is the roots of all

kinds of evil, and some people craving for money have

wondered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Simplified Pigeon English says people, we won't get money by force,

go forward inside temptations and wahalla amen.

Then go get plenty.

Foolish and bad desire will go spoil their life and

destroy them.

Now the love for money did your roots of all

kind bad things.

Some people don't run leave their faith because them two

like money, And now then they suffer. Were aware for

insight made the love bless us, reading to a heart

in Jesus name.

These days, gambling is everywhere in Aigeria.

Many people, especially young men, see betting, lotto and online

gambling as quick way to make money. But what they

don't realize is that gambling destroys lives. Many have lost

their jobs, families, and even be a faith simply because

of gambling. Gamblasts in the house this morning. I don't

hate you, and I believe that God does not hate you,

because john'trsistence says, for God so loved.

The world, and you're part of that world.

So God love see. But what God hates is the scene.

It is the scene, and that scene of gambling. Many

of us are destined for greater places in life, but

the only reason why you remain in the place where

you are is simply because you have occupied your life

and you're already bound by the devil, by that evil

of gambling.

The Bible wants us about greed and love for money,

and that's what we say in firsty Monthly Chapter six,

nine to.

Ten, and that Bible person teaches that those who chase

money through on.

Godly names with suffer.

In the end, I want to bring out a few

points from this passage to help our understanding this morning.

Firs Timothy six entertain. Number one thing.

That we see in their passage in verse nine is

that gambling makes people desperate for quick money. Gambling makes

people desperate for quick money. Do you know that those

who engage in gambling, they may not have eaten them, eh.

But somehow somebody just give them fifteen hours. You know.

The first thing they will think, they will take it

to the Naga bed house halfar within the show today,

they never trouple, that's nine says, But those who want

to be rich fall into temptation and a trap, and

into many foolish and amful desires, which drawn men in

destruction and ruin. These verse ones against chasing well the

wrong way? Is it that God doesn't want you to

be rich? No, that's not the point. But chasing it

the wrong way is what the Bible goes against. Outdoes

gambling encourage bad money? Are bits? Gambling makes people believe

in luck instead of hard work. That's what gambling does.

As first gambling is concerned, you can sit down at all,

just go and put your money and then it will

bring something for you. That's all about it. And you

know that versions of gambling em men. How many of

us were involved in it?

All right?

Thank you for confessing. Do you know that when MM

was on, it's a church down south and they were

doing building projects like and the building committee because there's

enough cash. And the church never get to the level

where they say, if you take the money, build the church.

That's why they carried the money. They put them form

as God.

We have it.

In our own language. They say oh, say say oh,

didn't catch fire. Didn't catch fire. That is the evil

of getting involved in matters like that. Gambling next, people

believe in lock instead of hard work. The Bangle teaches

us hard work and not looking for luck. Gampling makes

them greedy, always wanting.

More money fast. Doesn't mean that God doesn't want us

to have money.

No, of course, if there's no money, how do you

want to live your life? It's about one of the

most important things, right, how do you eat?

How do you survive?

We have money. The Bible is not saying don't have money, no,

but have it the right way. The Bible does not

encourage greed. The Bible says, this kind of thinking is

a trap that can destroy lives. It's a trap that

can destroy lives. And that's why many times I won't

encourage anything that is called multi level marketing.

Is it good? Is it right?

I can't say. I can't see for those who are

doing it, you can go on to do it, but

personally so I'm not saying that do multi live marketing

or not. But recently some people came and they wanted

to speak to the church. And by the time they

talk and talk and talk, I was, you know, trying

to get to do this thing. They want to introduce this,

they want to introduce this and all of those things.

And then they say they want to give business opportunity

to the church. I say, okay, share the business opportunity

with me. Let me know, because that is important for me.

I want my people to enter into business. Now let's

know the business but low and build. It is multi

level marketing. So you will come, you will buy some products,

and then you carry the product you're going to sell

to people. So the number that you have self sold,

and then how you have done all those things, it

will increase the number of people in yours. What no

sense is that there's no room for such cheer. There's

no room for so cheer. It can be done outside

this place, but as far as the church is concerned,

such should.

Not be given room in the church.

There are better ways to make money. There was a

member of our church here and I know all of

us know the person. When the person put together co

say business, granding business, tell owning business things.

We're moving well.

But the moment the person say added by jeble, everything

came crashing. I know the person and I asked the

person why you why is this thing in your business?

And the first, the first time, the person denied it

and said no, it does not belong to me. I say,

it's okay, please return it to the person because this

will be your downfall. You know the person, and at

the end of the day, everything came down. Many young

Nigerias enter sports betting just a waste of life because

they want quick money. Some even borrow money to gamble.

Can you hear that they borrow money to gamble? Open

to win be and the devil is very very crazy.

If you think the devil is old, I can tell

you it's a fine young man, very handsome man, and

he will stay at one corner. He will only tell

you it will suggest for you, but the decision is

left in your hand for everyone who gets into this.

In the end, most of these people lose and get

into serious financial problems even in the community because they

don't borrow from this one.

They don't borrow from this one, they don't borrow. What

are you using it for?

Are you using it for some investments that will make

your life better? We're gonna check some business. It's your

simple business. You're selling some small things like that and

then you're just selling it. But the moment you introduce

that gambling into that business, sorry, that business is coming down.

A survey was carried out by no Ipolls.

And that survey says that over sixty million Nigerians over

sixty million, that's half of Nigeria, half of the population

of Nigeria as of the current population that we know right,

the current population that we know is about war around

twenty million. That's the total population of Nigeria that we

know officially. So the pole says that sixty million of

the war around twenty million gamble regularly. So when I

say there are gamblers in the church, I know they

are because we are part of the war. Around twenty

million and sixty million already are gamblers.

Yes, because of the economy of Nigeria.

But excuse me, can I ask for those of you

that are gambling, has it changed your life? Has it

made your life better? You know, when you think does

not work again eh, and it's not. It's not working. Ah,

I need this money. And the next thing is Yahoo

Yahoo and if Yahoo Yahoo don't do, the next one

is wor Yahoo plus. From that pole, it is said

that Nigerian's spend about one point eight billion every day.

On betting.

One point eight billion neira is spent on betting every day.

That means that, excuse me, if you put one point

eight billio, how many of the one point eight billio

if you multiplied lessen in two weeks?

Is that not?

We are not equivalent to be the national budget of

Nigeria one point eight billion one pointed billion, one pointed billio?

How many was the budget of Nigeria?

Some trilio?

Right?

And that is going to some people.

But you, you have been pushed to more and more poverty.

It has not taken you out of that place. May

God help us in Jesus name number two things, we'll

see If that's ten A.

Gambling brings many problems, that's don a for the love

of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

When evil begins to before you check out what you're

doing with your resources that God has placed in your hand.

The passage I read at the beginning of the service

for the call to worship. The Master was going on

the journey, and he left certain gigs and talents in

the hands of his servants.

And what did they do with it?

The first one had five eh. I know each time

I look at each time I look at that man,

the man looks to me like an able man. Forget it.

I respect ego people. They are good multipliers because I

have some of them as my friends. When all of

us are going to school with your with your the jack,

with the jack, they yours do secondary school, finish and

the next thing check them out in the next five years.

They don't get their own shop. There's one, the one

young man there. When I first know him through mister Fanshak,

he had one shop. This year he has broken the shop.

He has extended the shop right.

Here in our very eyes. Eh. And then some of

us are saying this, and the man is just there.

He's taking care of his family, he's doing everything proud.

But when you begin to the day it begins to

put his hand into gambling. They don't even have They

don't have fun for gambling because they know what they

are doing. That stuff pays them more. But those who

are very stupid, they want to go into gambling. Sorry

to use their language, Money itself is not a band.

But when people love money too much, it leads them

into say, gambling is an example of our people's love

for money can destroy them. There's a way that serves

right onto a man, but the end thereof is destruction.

But many of us really don't realize this. What are

the dangers of gambling in Aigeria? Because of because of

because of gambling. It's part of the reason why we

have many thieves around, theft and fraud because of gambling,

because that thing has arec people's lives. Some gamblers will

steal from family, they will steal from friends or even

in their workplace. They will steal why just because they

want to gamble. Another danger is broken homes. Some husbands

use house rents, our school fees, two beds, causing problem

in their marriage. The landlord will home send them out

of the house, ask them the reason why they don't

have the money. It's not as if they didn't got

the money. They got the money, but where is the money?

They put it into gambling and water happened everything vanished.

There's this OUTSI man and you know a little story

of stores. The little I know about him, a land

that he started like or this. This this my lam

that will regularly carry tree on this thing like this,

and they go around sell this small suits from that

to way by room.

But what's happening in the hot store today? It is controlling.

There's a supermarket at or that's on your junction. That

place they just couldn't use it again. It was too small,

like three or four story building. It's just too smaller.

Have you seen that office day? It's ahasta powerful place

made the Lord open our eyes. Houses I've been destroyed,

homes are set a place just because of this evil

of gambling.

No matere danger. It's crime and rich us.

Some gamblers join fraud gangs or even do rich us

to get money because you can't be satisfied. And all

of this is coming from laziness. This one can do this,

so this one can do this, so this one can

do this. So and at the end of the day,

you destroy your lives about debts and loans. You take

loan here, take over this load. Come on to this

so divide into too, carry out, go put for Najerabet,

carry your love, take pay and go, come pay you later.

And I saw you gor. They do like that, do

like that.

So this story was told if it was sent to

us on the I think pastor's platform or something like that.

The man had come to Loring, and where he was

staying in the Loring, it's as if he was chased

out of that place.

So he came to a particular Baptist church.

So when he got to the Baptist church, he painted

the story for them and they verified and they believed

that it was true. And so the church came to

the assistance of that man. They got a place for him.

They assisted to stabilize him. The business that the kind

of handwork that they had, so they were just assisting him.

They assisted the wife and it was there one month,

two months, three months, four months, five months, six months.

It was with them half fire away, unknown to the church.

The man will borrow from Daddy Kara, It will borrow

from Missus Gable, It will borrow from Auntie Blessing, It

will borrow from the Bickness. It will borrow and borrow

and borrow, including the environments. The man don't borrow, borrow tire.

Then one weekend the man disappeared. He left to depamily

there in the household and they called him and we

didn't see you last week. I had to quickly make

some journey because of my business, and everybody believed. By

Monday money the entire family disappeared. It's as if rapture

your just took place and took only them away. They

didn't find them again. They didn't find them again.

Deaths and loans.

Do you know that some people even borrow eh from

loan apps? E? How many of us are in that category?

Hello?

You borrow from loan apps and then later on you

change your phone number. God is looking at you. You

will give accounts and later they will suffer embarrassments when

they can pay back. They will change address, change location,

change everything about them. I've received car like that too.

I've received calls.

People don't know.

It's not as if I don't know then, but they will.

Those people they will not call you. They say are

you so so so and so? I said, yes, do

you know this person? Yes, this person took alone from

us on this date and he has not been able

to pay and we cannot locate him. Okay, So what

do you not want me to do? He puts your

name and said this thing. Okay, I wasn't aware when

he was collecting the money. When he collected the money,

why did you not call me that this person has

collected the money and he has put my name. Then

I will tell you whether you can maybe a lot

of hair ports please. The story was told of a

young man in Legos. He started betting small amounts of

football matches. After losing several times, he borrowed money from

his friends and his boss. When he couldn't pay back,

he stole company money.

And then he was caught. At the end of the day,

he lost his job and went to prison.

He brought shame to his entire family, the same family

that you are trying to save your face, because at

the end of the day you ask people like that, hey,

my wife never chopped, my picking never chop, and I

won't make money for them.

That's not the best way. That's not the best way.

Number Three things that we see in that passage is

in verse ten B. The Bible says for which sum

have strayed from the affect in their greediness and pierced

themselves through with many sorrows. Gambling pulls people away from God.

That's the point.

Gambling will never draw you to God, it will take

you away from God. The destruction of gambling is both

physical and spiritual. Many Christians start gambling as fun, but

so they become addicted. Instead of trusting God to provide,

they put on their hope in gambling. Are you here

this morning? And that is your story? Spiritual dangers of gambling.

Gambling will make people to trust in luck instead of

trusting God. Philippians for night, Philippines for nighteen.

Again.

Gambling makes people to forget to seek God first. Matthew

six thirty three God, that's what the Bible commands. And

when you don't think God first, what apples?

Danger looms Number three There spiritual danger of gambling.

It brings shame, brings guilt, brings sadness when losses fino,

that's exactly what happens.

A university student.

Used to be very active in church, but when he

started betting, he stopped attending church, Bible, Star and everything

that has to do with George. Gambling took over his

life and he started mixing with bad friends. His faith

in God became weak.

Because of gambling. He lost it.

Was shally profit a man if he gains the whole

world and loses his soul of what he uses that.

Let me share this fact with you. Mother.

Forty percent of Nigerians Nigerian gamblers, mother, forty percent of

them suffer from depression and anxiety troubles.

Over their lives.

Many of them, at the end of the day commits

suicide after losing everything because on we sell everything they

are in their house. What are the better ways for

us to make money instead of gambling?

Trust God from the Bible, Trust God for your needs.

That's number one.

Week the Bible says in Matthew six thirty three, seek

first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall

be added onto you. Number two, work hard and hang

honestly provers fourteen twenty three. Add work brings profits.

But may talk. May talk talk leads to poverty. And

that's how many people are poor. They can talk.

You see some people, they will gather together at newspaper

stand and they'll start talking and talking and talking from

from seven am going to ten, even plimbing up to twelve.

Excuse me, so, what else you want to do for

the rest of the day. These people you are talking about,

they will continue to do what they are doing. You

can bring about any change, but you will just be

there a new Perstand it's a sign of laziness. Number

three way that you can make money is to be

contained with what you have he BLUs thirteen five. The

Bible says, be content with what you have because God

has said I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Be satisfied with what God has given to you. And

number four there safe and invest wisely. Not in ammen

safe and invest wisely? Prove twenty one Verse five.

The Bible says, the plans of the diligence lead surely

to abundance, but those who are hasty come only to poverty.

So how do you overcome gambling? The addiction of gambling?

You must realize that gambling is the same. So you

must confess your sin to God, ask God for forgiveness

and strength to stop. Seek help from others. Are you

struggling with that gambling. You have the opportunity today to

seek help. Seek help so that your life can be

better for it. Talk to a pastor, Talk to a

trusted family member, talk to a church leader, Talk to

somebody that you can trust so that you can be free.

Avoid temptation. Avoid temptation. Stay away from Betty's shops.

If it is close to your house.

Mh.

You know what the Bible says, you can say to

this mountain move and that mountain will move. And the

story was told of a young man because after the

past of finished preaching that they can tell this mountain

to move and need to move. The young man saw

that there's a rock that has been, you know, disturbing

the environment, and he wanted to exercise his faith. So

he exercised his faith. Say dismountain move in Jesus' name,

and that was the end. Did the mountain move? The

mountain moved? How did he move? Unknown to him that

government was planning to build the road around that place.

So governments came, they crushed that that and they put

through Today the mountain moved. There are mountains in our lives,

the mountain of gambling that needs to move. Talk to

God about that mountain and let us move off your

track so that you can have freedom in your life.

Stay away from better shots, stay away from gambling halfs,

Stay away from bad friends, because the Bible says bad

company does.

Who wants corrupt good manner. Who are your friends?

Finally, find a better hobby instead of gambling, use your

time for business.

Learning is kill e. Go and learn this skill if

you have non it before.

Instead of going to that place, go and learn how

to bob ah. There are people who can babe who

will teach you how to bob this church. There are

people who are tailor. Go and learn tailoring instead of

going to baits. And I know somebody that is into graphics.

I can send you to the person. You can go

and lead graphics instead of going for gambling. And instead

of gambling, you can come. Every time that the spirit

is moving you to go and gamble, just come to church.

I'll give you the start. Just start cleaning the church

like this, and we say Father, bless this church, bless

this church.

Just continue.

Then when you finish you would have You will be tired.

Then you go and sleep, and then you will escape gambling.

Once the things come again, just come, come and knock

at pastors. The pastor we open the door and give

you a clothes. You start cleaning again. Just keep cleaning.

Then one day go we say, ah, this my servant

that has been killing me. It is time for me

to bless him.

Gambling is not a game.

It is a trap that leads to greed, that leads

to poverty, that leads to destruction.

The Bible wants us in first.

Month, in chapter six time to tie that changing money

the wrong way we bring sorrow. As Christians, we must

trust God. We must work hard, we must be content

with what we have. Gambling is never the answer. It

is never an answer. Don't give into it. Don't give

into it. Is there anybody this morning we're just thinking,

I want to tell Jesus, Jesus, I want.

To try you. I want to try you.

I will stop gambling for the next one year, and

I want to see what you will do in my life.

Is there any body this morning who wants to try Jesus.

I'm inviting you to try Jesus this morning. I can

assure you that you will not be put to share.

Shall we close our eyes as.

We pray together. It's the only spirit just prompting your

heart to say, drop that way of life.

Jesus is saying, come to me, all ye that label

and every lady, and I will give you rest.

God is going to give you rest.

Do you want to haifire yourself back to Christ and say, Lord, Jesus,

deliver me from the spirit of gambling. Say Lord, deliver

me from the spirit of gambling. Take it away from me. Lord,

give me a new life. The opportunity is here this morning.

Can you just say, Lord, pass me, not urgin to say.

You hear my own a.

World on all this, dowly, do not pass me.

Save you, saave you, save you, saveve you save you

in my own boy, yeah, my own book cray wow.

On owly m do not pass.

Jesus is ready to save this morning as always. Can

you just take a moment and turn your life over

to Christ. Or perhap there's someone around you that you

are aware of the gambling. Can you ask God, Lord,

I lived this, my friend, I lived this my neighbor,

that you encounter this life, give this person a new life.

Thank you, Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, we have praid. Father,

will thank you for your word, Holy Spirit of God.

The seeds has been sold, Holy Spirit, take it over

and cosse it to germinate and bear much fruit to

the glory and honor of your name.

In Jesus' name, we pray