Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Sacrifice” Practical Application
Review
One who regularly engages in the spiritual exercises or habits prescribed in scripture will enjoy greater spiritual vitality and broader eternal impact. So far we have identified seven.
Solitude and silence
Submission
Confession
Interaction with Scripture
Faith
Thanksgiving and celebration
Prayer (Meaningful conversation with God)
Last week we introduced the next exercise – Personal Sacrifice
These activities exercise the soul for increased capacity to live on the eternal level of life.
Without them, we cannot grow. Without them we will never experience the full joy of Christ’s life lived through us. Every Christian serious about a deeper walk with God and greater impact in our world must perceive, pursue and practice personal sacrifice as a way of life. Sacrifice is probably better illustrated than defined. It is the foundation of Biblical history. It is the foundation of the history of the church.
I. What is sacrifice?
Sacrifice has to do with giving up something valued highly for the sake of someone valued
Sacrifice is a willingness to give up something valued highly for something or someone valued more highly.
We offered numerous examples of such sacrifice last week. Moses passed up the vast treasures of Egypt considering Christ a greater treasure. Abraham offered up his treasured son Isaac at the request of God whom He treasured more highly. Paul expressed his extreme delight in the opportunity to suffer for Christ’s sake on numerous occasions.
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. Philippians 2:17
Of course God so treasured us he gave His only Son to be sacrificed for us. Jesus offered up Himself as a substitute for our death sentence. The principle of giving in order to receive and dying in order to truly life runs all through the Scriptures. The Christian life unfolds as a series of death to life experiences. The key to surrendering to such a life has to do with our value system. Understanding the true value of things makes life choices much easier; at least clearer.
• Eat a Twinkie now or a great meal later?
• Spend every spare dollar as I get on dollar trinkets or put it away and enjoy the amazing benefits of multiplication later?
• Store up treasures on earth for a short time or invest them for eternity?
• Refuse entanglement in the world today and reap the rewards of faithfulness for eternity.
David considered God’s words more desirable than wealth or food.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Psalms 19:10
Sacrifice is a willingness to give up something valued highly for something or someone valued more highly.
II. Why is such a sacrificial lifestyle necessary?
A. Sacrifice validates the true reality of our commitment
Only when we are confronted with relinquishing ownership or control of something we deem valuable for the sake of the kingdom can we honestly discern the level of our commitment. After Paul expressed his ultimate sacrifice he mentions one at least who didn’t. 2 Timothy 4:6-10
Demas traded eternal ministry for temporary pleasure.
"Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Isaiah 55:2
Jesus called his followers to consider the exclusive nature of discipleship. Luke 14:15-35
B. Sacrifice demonstrates the true reality of our faith.
Abraham demonstrated the fact that he really believed God’s promise to the point of killing his own son. Do we really believe that God will take care of our needs or is our well being dependent on our own ingenuity and resourcefulness? Life presents many opportunities to test our true belief. Willingness to sacrifice apparent certainty for simple trust validates the true nature of our trust in God.
C. Sacrifice demonstrates the depth of our love and gratitude.
Romans 12:1-2
Consciously offering our bodies and therefore our lives to God in gratitude and recognition of His amazing mercy and love is not so much a remarkable response as a reasonable or logical one. One thing about a sacrifice is that it was always offered in its entirety. Some of us want to give God some but not all. Consider the story of the pig and the chicken on their way to a ham and egg benefit breakfast. The chicken proudly boasted of the satisfaction he felt for his contribution to the cause to which the pig replied… “That is great for you. For you it is merely a contribution, for me it is total sacrifice.” For many Christians, the dedication to God is merely a contribution to the cause rather than a total sacrifice to Jesus.
D. Sacrifice exposes selfishness and complacency
Jesus said true followers must deny themselves. Such self-denial is the perennial challenge of humanity. A rampant selfishness is omnipresent in every generation, and the church is not immune to me-ism. In fact, many declare our nation has opted for a double dose. Pastor and parishioner alike calculate every move to maximize personal benefit. Today, our bonfires of selfishness are fueled by the gasoline of affluence. Today we ask, "What will you do for me soon?” We envision God as the dispenser of (and/or withholder) of life's prizes-- a television game-show host. We conclude that such things as good health, fortune, and success are sure indicators of God’s approval for our lives. This is the Protestant ethic gone to seed.
We are in an age where self-fulfillment and personal happiness take precedence over truth and ministry to God. Even the good things we do can ultimately be motivated by self-protection and self-promotion. We are becoming a generation of people that will not do anything unless it has some kind of pay off and the reward better follow pretty close to the deed or look out! Affluence blinds us, as it did the believers of the early church at Laodocia, to our desperate daily need for eternal resources. Only a willingness to lose it will bring the ability to truly use it for the kingdom.
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Sacrifice is the only sure way to expose and eradicate selfishness.
E. Sacrifice brings true freedom and blessing
When we finally relinquish control over everything and own nothing…
When dedicate our whole life to kingdom purposes…
When fully entrust our lives to the one who loved us…
…We enter into a new freedom from trying to make life work.
…We can truly love people and use things to bless people.
…We can be free from the entanglements of trying to protect our stuff, our reputations, our pride, our future, our feelings, our family because we have relinquished control to God who promises to orchestrate all things for His glory and our good.
Beside freedom, there is the blessing of a deeper relationship with God only realized through regular sacrifice. Regular sacrifices are the stepping stones to a deeper relationship and a greater impact. Regular selfless sacrifices qualify and position us for future sacrifices which produce even greater freedom and blessing. Humility and sacrifice is the only path to exaltation.
Paul clearly detailed what he chose to value and to designate as his life pursuit.
Philippians 3:7-21
He gave up a comfortable life, perhaps even a wife, prestige, power, wealth, popularity.
For what? 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Yet what was his attitude? Romans 8:18
III. How do we practice regular sacrifice? (Go on a D.I.E.T.)
A. Dedicate your life to kingdom purposes
AB Simpson urged what he called, “an essential Sacrifice”; a time in our life where we relinquish the control of our life to God. Paul urged the Romans to offer their bodies a living sacrifice as the reasonable response to God’s merciful work on our behalf.
B. Invite God to search motives
Since our heart can be deceitful, we must be willing to allow God to expose a self-deception about who is really in charge of our life and our real agenda.
David prayed…
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24
C. Evaluate or establish your values and purpose
Take the time to evaluate your true values. Your life values determine your life choices.
What is your purpose? What are you working to achieve on this earth? The best way to determine my true values is to put them to the test. God is # one in my life. What evidence would support the claim? Time, passion, actions? Spiritual growth vs. immediate satisfaction.
Eternal purpose vs. temporary pleasure? Ministry to people vs. pursuing and protecting possessions. Work to be more comfortable or further kingdom purposes. Work to accumulate things or encourage people. Paul told the Ephesians to work in order to have something to share. Take a vacation to renew spiritual vigor or check out? Entertainment or encouragement?
What does being a Christian actually cost us in America? What have we actually sacrificed for the sake of the kingdom? If it doesn’t hurt, it probably doesn’t count. Have we invited Jesus to be part of our life or be our life? Is God the center or the fringe? Am I seeking the kingdom and His righteousness first or last? The key here is to be honest with God. Would I rather stay home and do nothing than get out to Bible study or small group? Would I rather go to a movie than a seminar? Would I rather turn on the television than open my Bible? Would I rather talk to my friends or listen to music than sit in silence and pray?
D. Transfer control / ownership to God
• Family (Dedication)
• Time (Observance of a Sabbath and service)
Isaiah talks about the true nature of a Sabbath observance.
We must come to the point where we call the Sabbath “a delight”
"If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Isaiah 58:13
Then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 58:14
Treasure
Money (Tithes and offerings)
Possessions (Simplicity)
Then Jesus said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Luke 12:15
Pleasure (Fasting)
• Talk (Silence)
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16
Are we ready to go on a D.I.E.T.?
