Tonight we are kicking off our new series – “SACRIFICE” – sounds a little morbid for a back to school series, even to me … but here’s where we are at!
Tough topic … so let’s start with a little fun … Things You Don’t Want to Hear During Surgery
•Better save that. We’ll need it for the autopsy.
•Someone call the janitor. We’re going to need a mop.
•Bo! Bo! Come back with that! Bad dog!
•Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what’s that?
•Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived 500ml of this stuff before?
•Sterile, shcmerile. The floor’s clean, right?
•OK, now take a picture from this angle. This is truly a freak of nature.
•And now we remove the subject’s brain and place it in the body of the ape.
•Accept this sacrifice, O Great Lord of Darkness.
What do you think of when you hear the word SACRIFICE? What images come into your mind?
Two things really pop in my head …
1.The Cross – I think that is the ultimate picture of sacrifice … one man giving up his life to rescue a hurting world.
2.The First Responders – we are just a few days past 9/11’s 5 year anniversary … these firefighters, EMT’s and police officers gave up their lives to rescue people they didn’t love or even know from the collapsing twin towers!
SACRIFICE … it’s a word that has a lot of meaning!
sac•ri•fice n. Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.
And that is what Jesus did? His earthly life had great value … but he knew that restoring people into a right relationship with God had greater value … he saw things totally different then how we look at things!
We think SACRIFICE is probably about throwing a dollar to God … or … giving up a soda for a missions offering … or showing up for MSO …
Here’s what a few great people of God said about sacrifice …
•“To be a follower of the Crucified Christ means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss.” - Elisabeth Elliot
•“O Lord, the only thing most of us know about sacrifice is how to spell the word!” - Jacob Stam.
•Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing. - John Henry Jowett
I want my life to ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING … I do not want to look back at the end of my life and think, “I would have … I should have … I could have …”
I want to say to God, “I did … I did … I did.”
My prayer for each of your lives is for YOU TO DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR GOD!
Christ’s example of SACRIFICE started with love and continues with love … he gave his all for each one of our lives …
Back to our text … Paul tells us to follow Christ’s example … what was his example:
•He lived a life filled with love for others
•He gave his life for those he loved
Paul attempts to motivate the church in Ephesus to follow Christ’s example … which he calls “sweet perfume” to God … and that’s what I want your life to become … a sweet perfume to God.
Stop and think for a minute … what holds you back from FULLY giving all to God?
Let me give you 3 PRINCIPLES OF SACRIFICE …
1. Sacrifice requires love
John 15:13-14: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (NASB)
Listen … you will not sacrifice anything for or to God if you do not really love him!
The greatest way to show love is through sacrifice … it’s a word I honestly do not like to hear … but one I must remind myself of everyday!
My love for God requires a sacrifice!
Christ would never have given his life if he did not love us … his love led him to sacrifice!
2. Sacrifice requires trust
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV).
Sometimes, when God ask you to do something it is not going to make sense!
We have to trust that God has the ULTIMATE plan for our lives!
And if we trust in him, Proverbs tells us that everything will work out!
In my mind it does not make sense to TITHE 10% of my income … or give even more money to Speed the Light … or spend countless extra hours making this Student Ministry amazing … or helping out other churches for free!
That doesn’t make sense … but I have to trust God and his principles!
Sacrifice requires trust!
3. Sacrifice requires obedience
1 Samuel 15:22: “Then Samuel said, Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices — empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production” (MSG).
You can sacrifice and follow the routine, but are you really listening to God … the real sacrifice God is looking for is OBEYING him!
Listening to God and then doing it!
This is the HARD ONE … when God tells you to do something … you feel that tug in your gut … what do you do?
Real sacrifice means obeying even when you do not feel like it!
CONCLUSION
What does God want us to sacrifice?
1.Our Treasures – God allows us to manage his earthly resources … we need to give 10% of everything to God … and THEN give offering for missions!
2.Our Talents – Some of you guys are extremely talented musicians, actors, artists, talkers, and more … shouldn’t you use those talents for the thing that matters most in life --- CHRIST???
3.Our Time – each of us are given the same amount of time – 24 hours in a day … 168 hours per week … are you giving God your time or your left-overs?
Over the next several weeks we are going to talk more about sacrifice!
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.
At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.
These men gave their all!
Why? They loved freedom! They trusted God! They obeyed their convictions!
We must give all our LOVE, TRUST, and OBEDIENCE to Christ!
What will you SACRIFICE this week?
