Sermon Central
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Sacrifices That Please God- Unlocking The Secrets Of Enjoying Heaven's Best
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Jan 16, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: 1. SACRIFICE OF PRAISE 2. SACRIFICE OF OFFERINGS 3. SACRIFICE OF CHARITY 4. SACRIFICE OF HOLINESS 5. SACRIFICE OF LABOUR 6. SACRIFICE OF SURRENDER 7. SACRIFICE OF SUFFERING
SACRIFICES THAT PLEASE GOD - UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF ENJOYING HEAVEN'S BEST
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OUTLINE
1. SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
2. SACRIFICE OF OFFERINGS
3. SACRIFICE OF CHARITY
4. SACRIFICE OF HOLINESS
5. SACRIFICE OF LABOUR
6. SACRIFICE OF SURRENDER
7. SACRIFICE OF SUFFERING
THE MESSAGE
1. SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
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THE LORD IS PLEASED WHEN WE HONOUR HIM AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH WITH A HEART OF GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,
to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron,
to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the LORD.
2. SACRIFICE OF OFFERINGS
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THE LORD IS PLEASED WHEN WE GIVE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS CHEERFULLY AND GENEROUSLY TO HIS KINGDOM.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.
You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty.
“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
3. SACRIFICES OF CHARITY
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THE LORD IS PLEASED WHEN WE HELP THE POOR AND NEEDY AND SHOW OUR LOVE IN ACTION
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
