“‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. Amen.
Giving is an act of obedience but not a substitute. Obedience on the other hand require so much more than giving. When we sacrifice out of obedience, that offering often yield more manifold blessings than otherwise.
These manifold blessings then tend to encourages us to sacrifice even more based on God’s word (with more obedience leading to more giving, which then leads to more blessings and the cycle continues into a higher realm of glory everyday).
Unfortunately, some pastors and spiritual leaders today out of selfish gains have promoted sacrifices at the expense of teaching obedience. Sacrifices have their place but we need to make the Word of God the standard of our lives all the time.
It is worthy of note that obedience always comes first before sacrifice and doing the opposite may have costly implications.
We sacrifice out of obedience, but we may not necessarily obey out of sacrifice.
Just like in the days of old, some believers today prefer short-cuts to prosperity and hence are always duped by some so-called Prophets and Apostles. They are caused to give to the Lord out of intense persuasion and occasionally, out of fear; but never from an understanding from the word of God. What happens after the giving then? There’s no significant manifestation of the blessing received, not even after our loudest “amens”.
From the above scripture, it is clear that God is still God whether we offer sacrifices or not. His main delight is not in our mere sacrifices but that we will obey Him before we sacrifice.
He also expects us to walk in obedience all the time and not only when we need a blessing from Him. Obedience to God is not “mere talk”, neither is it a one-time event. Instead, It is remaining connected to the Holy Spirit always to receive directions and the ability to do (obey).
When we are able to offer our lives as living sacrifice (ie total surrender in obedience), then all sacrifices we bring are like a sweet fragrance before the Lord. He receives us into His household and lavish us with unlimited goodness.
What are we waiting for? Begin to pray now. Ask for an obedient spirit, surrender your all in total submission to the word of God, then watch out for showers of blessings over all you do.
NB: YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE 4JBAND IN TOTAL PRAISE & WORSHIP @ PRECIOUS FAMILY HOUSE CHAPEL- HAATSO ON THE 17th of August. 3pm prompt.. Jesus promises to be there, where would you rather be?
