- September 22, 2020
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Pastor's Blog
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THE POTENCY OF GODLY SACRIFICE
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4 KJV
Sacrifice is a major path way to the top most in life
Sacrifice is readiness to die in order to live. Sacrifice may be painful but the pain determines your ultimate gain in future.
There are things you can not get without sacrifice. God does not give everything freely except for general or common grace which every one enjoys
You need to pain certain price to enjoy extra or special grace.
A man called Henry wadsforth Longfellow
Says:
“The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
WHAT DOES SACRIFICE MEAN?
The act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to have a greater value or claim:
-it means going beyond your best.
-it means deadly commitment
-it means to deny yourself of certain pleasure
-given up something valuable now to gain more valuable something in future
- It means you drop something that is useful to you.
God usually responds to sacrifice with speed.
The place of sacrifice is usually God’s choice.
Wherever sacrifice is offered, God is attracted.
IF YOUR SERVICE OR GOING TO GOD IS NOT PAINFUL YOU CAN NOT RECEIVE GAINFUL REWARD
For you to understand the principle of sacrifice it must cost you something
You must lay down something
- Many people have sacrificed their very lives for Christ. All the Apostoles sacrificed their life…. paul declare….. Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Kings 3:26-27 The king of Moab took 700 men to help him. He offered his crown prince
Great anger was released against Israel and they withdrew from him.
THE GREATER THE SACRIFICE THE GREATER THE POWER RELEASED
2 Kings 3:26-27 The king of Moab took 700 men to help him. He offered his crown prince Great anger was released against Israel and they withdrew from him
- Sacrifices have power
The king of Moab did not sacrifice a goat or a sheep or one of his servants
He took his son that was to rule in his Place
*God can’t say no to sacrifice especially when it is offered with a pure heart.
It is a smell that attracts Him all the time – Phil.4:15-19
TYPES OF SACRIFICE
SACRIFICE OF FASTING AND PRAYER
Prayer and fasting is a sign of our desire and hunger to seek God. And in seeking Him, we place less importance in our daily routines of finding food and momentary physical pleasures. Through prayer and fasting, we develop a passion for God that supercedes everything else.
Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
YOUR ATTITUDE TO PRAYER WILL DETERMINE YOUR ALTITUDE IN LIFE- prayer has the ability to released promised, delayed and detained blessings. Elijah prayed sacrificial prayer and rain fell. Likewise Daniel, Jacob and indeed our Lord Jesus Christ. Pay the price of fasting prayer and expect mega testimonies .
SACRIFICE OF DILIGENCE prov 12: 24
It takes diligent to realize your potential and sacrifice to maximize it. In order for you to lead you must be diligent and also have sacrificed.
Don’t drop your tools,you must keep digging
Why is it important to be diligent_
-It takes diligence to enjoy promotion (Proverbs 22:29)
-It take diligence to sustain rulership (Proverbs 22:24)
-It takes diligence to escape poverty (Proverbs 24:30-34)
Reduce your time on social media tv and walking about aimlessly. Hardworking places people in stardom.
SACRIFICE OF GIVING ps 126:5
This is a seed that cost you. It is a proof of your true love and devotion to God, it is a proof of your total reliance on God, it shows your value for God. Do you spend more of some insignificant things than what you give to God? God demanded Isaac from Abraham to give him nations, Solomon gave 1000 cow. David said: “I won’t make an offering to God that doesn’t cost me something.” TO GIVE WITHOUT SACRIFICE IS NOT TO GIVE AT ALL.
You can also give yourself, your time, your talents, skills or ability
SACRIFICE OF PRAISE:
Praise and worship will leave no room for complaining and negativity.
Sometimes even within our prayers, we can tend to complain about our problems. through praise and worship we’re focused on Him, no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles. We’re reminded of what He has already done in our lives. We’re reminded that He knows what concerns us and He’s capable of taking care of all that burdens us.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4
Brethren, SACRIFICE MAY BE TEARFUL BUT IT LEADS TO FEARFUL LIFTINGS
OUR SACRIFICE TO GOD MUST BE EXCELLENT, VALUABLE AND QUALITATIVE. Hebrews 11:4
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
Hebrews 11:4 KJV
LET YOUR SACRIFICE NOT BE CORRUPTIBLE .
- sacrifice or service offered unto God with grumbling and murmuring. Serve well in your depts, attend church consistently and punctually
- Avoid eye service
- watch your tongue never allow evil communication and confession to corrupt your sacrifice.