THE FORCE OF SACRIFICE - Pastor David Abioye

‘When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126.1-6 

Sacrifice is a God-ordained gateway to the realm of new dawn. Offering may open doors to you but sacrifice compels gates to open continually, and allows you to receive blessings that can’t pass through doors. Isaiah 60.10-11 tells of ‘strangers building you up, kings ministering to you, … gates being continually open to you that shall NOT be shut, that men may bring to you’.

By definition, a sacrifice is given at a cost (quality) so it’s not about the size/volume (quantity), but rather what it costs the giver. Sacrifice involves relinquishing things that are highly valuable to you. Ideally, it is something which you don’t easily forget you’ve given up. For instance, Isaac was the most precious thing to Abraham despite everything he had, and that was what God asked of him. Ecclesiastes 11.1 speaks of casting bread (sowing your seed). Sacrifice may seem like you’re terminating your very last, but God has the power to bring it back to you.

BENEFITS OF SACRIFICE

1. Sacrifice reverses curses. In Genesis 8.20-21, Noah made a burnt offering of every clean beast, and God ‘smelled a sweet savour; … and said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake… neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done’.
   
2. The alter of sacrifice is the enactment of the covenant. Psalm 50.5 says ‘Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is judge himself’. Sacrifice is the passage into covenant with God. From Genesis Chapter 12 – 22, God spoke to Abraham of promises He would bring to pass, but it wasn’t until when Isaac was offered that it became a covenant (Genesis 22.16-18). Sacrifice upgrades from the realm of promises to that of covenants. The realm of covenants with God gives you full rights and previledges to everything God has because you are walking in partnership with Him. In the realm of covenant, you need not look for things, rather they will look for you; you need not pray for things, you think of what you need and it appears; you don’t get rich to buy, you are blessed to get.
   But thou shalt remember the Lord the God; for it is He that giveth thee power to GET wealth’ Deuteronomy 8.18. ‘Getting’ here refers to things that come to you without sweat or exertion (or even payment) on your side. ‘For the Lord they God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills … a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness’ – Deuteronomy 8.7-9.
   
3. It is the alter of preservation of posterity. As a result of Abraham’s covenant with God, Isaac was blessed, Jacob was blessed, and Israel (to date) is still receiving of these blessings.
   
4. It is the altar of termination of plagues (be it marriage, jobs, stagnation, health, barrenness). In 2Samuel 24.24, David refused to give an offering to God which cost him nothing. And God stayed the plague from the land.
   
5. It is the altar of supernatural turnaround. Through sacrifice, you can terminate struggles and end hardship without begging or soliciting.

When should we make sacrifices then?

• Whenever things seem tight. In 1King 17.8-16, the widow of Zarephath was struggling to eat, but by giving to Elijah first, she didn’t need to worry about food for the rest of the drought.
  
• When God instructs you to do so (as in the case of Abraham with Isaac). This collects what is limited in your hand, freeing you to receive the unlimited.
  
• When you are prompted to do so, as in the case of Solomon. He gave out of delight, and without prompting and God in turn blessed him with incomparable wisdom (1Kings 3.6, 4.34).

MAKE YOUR SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BY:

1. First give yourself to God before making gifts – the giver is more valuable than the gift.
   
2. Give with a heart of love for God. 1Kings 3.3, 2 Corinthians 8.5 (they first gave themselves).
   
3. Give willingly. Genesis 22.9-10. Abraham didn’t delay in the hope God would change His mind.
   
4. Give worshipfully. In Genesis 22.5, Abraham told the servant he and his son were going to worship.
   
5.  Give expectantly (Hebrew 11.17-19). You are not throwing it away, it doubtlessly returns back to you (Ecclesiates 11.1, Psalm 126.6).

Watch teaching on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFEfkh3cSSM