SACRIFICE PART 1

SUNDAY SERVICE 24TH SEPTEMBER 2006

INTRODUCTION

When we begin to consider the word “sacrifice” there is only one sacrifice, one and only one sacrifice and that is Jesus The sacrifice is your best (Lev 1: 3, “without blemish” 10; 2: 1 “Fine”). Alleluia!!!

Having said that Jesus is the sacrifice, we also know that a goat gives birth to a goat and a dog gives birth to a dog.

So then if Jesus is the sacrifice and you have been begotten of Him then you become a Jesus. The bible records that in Antioch the people observing the way of life of the disciples declared that they must have been with Jesus. They were begotten of him and behaved like Him, they did things like Him.

If Jesus is then a sacrifice and you are a Jesus then you are a sacrifice. If you are a sacrifice you must behave just the way you are.

Before we go on to consider a few people in the scriptures and look at their attitude to help us we will take some definitions.

DEFINITION OF SACRIFICE FROM THE FREE ONLINE DICTIONARY

1. The act of offering something to a deity* as a propitiation or homage especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person
· A victim offered in this way
*deity speaks of the spiritual one accounted to be able to do all things

2. Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim**
· Something so forfeited
**If you have the attitude of sacrifice, though something you have may be precious to you, but because you know there is something greater whether seen or not you would give it up. People will tell you that a bird in hand is worth more than twenty (20) in the bush but the definition of sacrifice is saying something totally contrary.

3. Relinquishment of something at less than the presumed value (To relinquish there must be willingness)
· Something so relinquished
· A loss so sustained

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICE

ABRAHAM WITH ISAAC

Gen 15: 1-6 (The foundation of the Sacrifice is laid)

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceeding great reward”

“Do not be afraid”

The pastor comes to visit you and says “Brother John, do not be afraid” There is no doubt that a situation requiring brother John to get his acts together is in the offing.

But note that having said, “Do not be afraid …” God followed with an assurance of support. “I am your shield, your exceeding great reward”

Notwithstanding the assurance Abram went to play his situation before God.
2 Lord God what will you give me seeing I go childless ……

In verses 4-6, God not only assured Abram that his heir shall be from his loins but that his descendants shall be like the stars for number.

Gen 17: 5-6, 15-17 (The preparation began)

5 No longer shall you name be called Abram but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations

15 ……. “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai but Sarah shall be her name 16 “And I will bless her and also give you a son by her, and she shall be the mother of nations; kings of people shall be from her” Gen 18: 10, 14 (The final pronouncement)

10 …… I will certainly return to you according to the time of life and Sarah your wife shall have a son.

Gen 21: 1-8

1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.

8 ……. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned

Gen 22: 1-18 (The sacrifice is ready, the sacrifice is demanded)

God’s demand

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” …….. 2 …”Take now your son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you”

Abraham’ obedience

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey …. And Isaac his son; and split the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an alter there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the alter, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!!” 12 … “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son your only son, from Me.”

16 ….. “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing and you have not withheld your son your only son 17 In blessing I will bless you in multiplying I will multiply you …….”

The following points are to be noted:

· There is often a long wait for the sacrifice (Gen 15: 1-6)

· The sacrifice is God’s specific provision (Gen 17: 15-17)

· The sacrifice is a breakthrough seed (Gen 17: 16)

· The sacrifice will often have been celebrated (Gen 21: 8)

· The sacrifice is one separated or special (Gen 21: 10-12)

· The sacrifice is a test (Gen 22: 1-2)

· The sacrifice is under your control (Gen 22: 6-7)

· The sacrifice is a blessing (Gen 22: 15-18)

THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH (1 KINGS 17: 8-24)

· God prepares the sacrifice (vs. 8-9)

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah) saying 9 Arise go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.

· The sacrifice is identifiable (vs. 10)

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said “Please bring me a little water in a cup that I may drink”

· The sacrifice is a challenge (vs. 11-12)

11 And as she was going to get it, he called unto her and said bring me morsel of bread in your hand”
12 So she said As the Lord you God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.

· The sacrifice is for MULTIPLIED deliverance

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make a small cake from it first and bring it to me and afterward make some for yourself and your son
14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth”

The Widow and the mite (Mark 12: 41-44)

· God is watching out for the sacrifice of a “certain” poor widow

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury and many who were rich put in more
42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites …..
43 So he called his disciples to Himself and said to them “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury
44 “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty, put in all that she had, her whole livelihood”

Points to note:

· Want or lack is not a hindrance to sacrifice

· Sacrifice is your “ALL”

· Sacrifice is God’s highest ranking

The Shunamite Woman (2Kings 4: 8-37)

· Sacrifice is an attitude vs. 8-10

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman and she persuaded him to eat some food ………

9 And she said to her husband Look now I know that this is a holy man of God …….

10 Please let us make a small upper room on the wall, and let us put a bed for him there and a table and a chair and a lamp-stand; so it will be whenever he comes to us he can turn in there

· Needs are located and met when there is a heart of sacrifice

Elisha was impressed by the woman’s action that he called for her to ask what she would want to be done for her.

13 And he said to him say now to her Look you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered I dwell among my people

14 So he said what then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, “Actually she has no son and her husband is old”

15 So he said “Call her” when he had called her she stood in the doorway.

16 Then he said “About this time next year you shall embrace a son”…………

17 ………… the woman conceived and bore a son when the appointed time had come of which Elisha had told her

· The blessing of sacrifice is not a torment it is permanent

18 And the child grew. Now it happened that one day that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother”.

20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knee until noon, and there died

21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him and went out.

32 When Elisha came to the house there was the child lying dead on his bed

33 He went in therefore shut the door behind the two of them and prayed unto the Lord

34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth his eyes on his eyes and his hand on his hands, and stretched himself out on the child and the flesh of the child became warm

35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house and again went up and stretched himself out on him then the child sneezed seven times and the child opened his eyes.

36 And he called Gehazi and said “Call this Sunamite woman.” So he called her and when she came to him he said “Pick up your son.”

37 So she went in fell at his feet bowed to the ground, then she picked up her son and went out.