The Meaning
of Sacrifice
I Kings 17:1-16; Romans 12:1 “present your bodies a living sacrifice…”
Intro: We hear the word SACRIFICE used
often. Most often, we equate the word SACRIFICE to the Old Testament sacrifices;
sheep, turtledoves, bullocks, goats, oxen, etc.
We also hear
the word in conjunction with the those that have fought for our country. Those
that are in the military that have left family, friends, jobs, country to go
fight for our freedom; those that have died fighting for our freedom are
commended and honored for their SACRIFICE.
In our text
today, Paul said – present your bodies a living sacrifice.
Definition
of Sacrifice: The forfeiture of something highly valued,
such as an idea, an object or a friendship, for the sake of one considered to
have greater value or claim.
è Illustration: I love golf, and enjoy playing golf. But giving up golf to serve God wouldn't be a
great sacrifice, because I hardly ever play!
Sacrifice doesn't mean giving up something; it means giving up something
that means a lot to you, in order to please God.
God set the
standard for true sacrifice.
His love for
you prompted Him to sacrifice His Son.
He gave His
very best for us – the very worst.
His love for
us was DEMONSTRATED BY HIS SACRIFICE.
QUESTION:
How much do we love the Lord?
What does it
mean to present our bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE?
This widow
woman sets an example of what it means to SACRIFICE.
I. The Prerequisites of Sacrifice
Before God
ever asks somebody to make a sacrifice, it's important that they have prepared
themselves by:
A. Working toward fulfilling
responsibilities. - the widow woman
was there gathering of sticks:
It was her
responsibility to provide for that son of hers.
Her husband was dead. Though she
was working and laboring, it was not a sacrifice – it was her obligation! Many think that if they go to church and
tithe and live right, that it is a sacrifice.
No, it's their responsibility! (reasonable
service)
B. Working toward fulfilling
request. - Fetch me, I pray thee, a
little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
She really
didn't owe this stranger anything. She
could have sent him away. Instead, she
gave him what he asked for. Of course,
this was a sacrifice in itself, because it hadn't rained in years. This was a test. If she wasn't willing to make a small
sacrifice, then she wouldn't be willing for the one that was to come. It was easy for him to ask, but hard for her
to do.
è Request: such as filling in as a Sunday School teacher, work day at
the church, getting involved in things you don't really have time for....
II. The Practice of Sacrifice
A. Willing to forfeit her
resources. - Bring me, I pray thee, a
morsel of bread in thine hand.
It was her
oil, meal and 2 sticks! This request he
asked of her would wipe her out! This
was all she had. He wasn't asking
someone to give out of their abundance, he was asking her to give everything!
è Illustration: The self-storage industry in the United States generated
more than $24 billion in annual U.S. revenues (2014 - estimate).
B. Willing to fight rebellion
- I am gathering two sticks, that I may
go in and dress it for me and my son,
He was
asking her to take food out of her mouth, as well as her son's! How could he do that? How dare he do that? She had to fight the
resentment in her heart toward his request. She simply turned around and went
into the house and obeyed his request.
III. The Purpose of Sacrifice
A. God wants to reward you –
she was going to die anyway; what was one more meal?
Because of
his promise, that after her sacrifice, she would have enough, she obeyed. He didn't promise her an amazing abundance;
just enough for the next meal.
B. God wants to refine you
– Zarephath means "refinery"
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way
that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
"forth
as gold" means
something splendid, valuable, brilliant.
She was a
hard working woman, and busy doing what she was supposed to do. However, God had something he wanted to do
for her, so he put her through the fire.
She came forth as pure gold, and God used her obedience to sustain
herself, her son, and the man of God! AMEN!!
